The death of pioneering broadcast journalist Barbara Walters prompted many social media users to share clips of their favorite interviews she conducted over her decades-long career.
Walters gained fame and notoriety for interviewing every United States President and First Lady from Richard and Pat Nixon to Barack and Michelle Obama as well as a slew of controversial figures like Fidel Castro and Anwar Sadat.
But an interview she had with former Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in 2012 was not her finest moment. Footage shows how awkward things got when she asked Christie why he's overweight.
After Walters asked, Christie responded if he "could figure that out" he'd "fix it."
And when Walters asked him if he's tried to diet, he responded:
"Barbara, I've had more diets and [have] lost and gained back more weight in my lifetime than I care to count."
Christie went on to say it's "ridiculous" for people to regard him as unworthy of consideration in a presidential race when Walters pointed out some people believe he "shouldn't be President because [he's] so heavy."
You can see the footage for yourself below.
\u201c2012. Barbara Walters asks Chris Christie why he is fat.\u201d— Maze (@Maze) 1672459585
The resurfaced interview prompted many to suggest that Walters had acted inappropriately.
\u201cShe\u2019s so out of pocket \ud83e\udd23\u201d— Danii Bella \ud83d\udc95 (@Danii Bella \ud83d\udc95) 1672521396
\u201cThe interviewers of yesteryear had no qualms about asking people why they are fat.\u201d— BWH (@BWH) 1672460546
\u201c#BarbaraWalters flaunts her shocking levels of #FatPhobia. Banish her from the land! \n\n#fatacceptance #bodypositive #effyourbeautystandards\u201d— Adam Franklin (@Adam Franklin) 1672466635
\u201cShe was one tacky broad.\n\n#RIP\u201d— Mark Davis (@Mark Davis) 1672484199
\u201cDid Barbara ever ask any woman why they\u2019re fat?\u201d— Nathan In SoCal (@Nathan In SoCal) 1672509670
\u201c@mazemoore That's brutal.\u201d— Maze (@Maze) 1672459585
\u201c@mazemoore Just curious, what prompted her to ask such a question.\nIt's somewhat belittling to anyone really \ud83e\udd37\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\u201d— Maze (@Maze) 1672459585
\u201c@mazemoore @stacyhrae What another yawner interview.\u201d— Maze (@Maze) 1672459585
Christie has struggled with his weight for most of his life and has had to respond to questions about it for much of his political career. He has admitted to being concerned about his weight and its implications for his health, describing himself as relatively healthy overall.
Christie underwent lap-band stomach surgery in February 2013 and disclosed the surgery to The New York Post in May of that year, saying he'd decided to have the surgery for the sake of his wife and children.
At the time, he denied that he'd given into pressures from political insiders who said the surgery was a clear sign that he would join the 2016 presidential race.
