Kaylea Titford’s Neglect Was Appalling — Yet Media Focused On Her Weight

Hi Rachel,

Hope you’re well!

It’s been a long time since I pitched but hopefully you remember me, I wrote about autism rep in As We See It for you!

I’m pitching you because I would like to write an opinion piece in response to the Kaylea Titford verdict and the news coverage around it, and I think The Unwritten would be a good home for this discussion.

Media coverage of Kaylea’s death has been highly sensationalistic. “Morbidly obese teen died in conditions ‘unfit for any animal;” says Sky News — who lead with the details of her weight and diet before discussing how she hadn’t been washed in weeks 10 paragraphs in!

As a disabled woman who’s previously reported on the risks of anti-fat bias , I feel I could offer a nuanced perspective on how this case is being discussed in the media. Kaylea was failed by her parents and social services, and her weight was part of a bigger picture of neglect.

Do let me know if you’d be interested in working with me on this. I would be able to get the piece in by tomorrow AM.

Thank you.