Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYU Not Worried About Fat-Shaming Visiting Professor, Who Was Just Doing "Research"
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jun 4, 2013
Modified Jun 4, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jun 4, 2013
Modified Jun 4, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday, we spun you the tale of Geoffrey Miller, a visiting professor at NYU who riled up the Internets by fat-shaming PhD applicants on Twitter. Despite the uproar, though, it doesn't look like Miller's in trouble with the Bobcats; though his primary employer, the University of New Mexico, isn't too happy with him right now, NYU says it's cool since he apologized.
Sunday's tweet, in which evolutionary psychology professor Miller claimed obese PhD applicants wouldn't have the willpower to write a dissertation if they couldn't refrain from eating carbs, elicited a lot of well-deserved rage from the rest of the Internet, and even spawned a Tumblr featuring full-bodied PhD candidates who, hey, successfully defended their dissertations. Miller's since apologized for and deleted the tweet (and locked his Twitter account to boot), but his home school, UNM, says they're "deeply concerned" about his assertion.
Apparently, Miller has told them the tweet was "part of a research project" to measure responses to provocative tweets. "We are looking into the validity of this assertion, and will take appropriate measures," the school said in a statement yesterday. Hey, at least he didn't claim he was hacked!
Meanwhile, NYU says they're not too concerned about Miller, who taught a few classes at the Stern School of Business last semester and is scheduled to stay through August. "Professors have said things before that are controversial," Philip Lentz, a spokesman for NYU, told the Observer. "I don’t want to characterize this as ‘big’ or not." After all, this is the school that hired Upskirt Professor, Williamsburg Dog Whisperer, James Franco and the guy who sued James Franco—they've seen worse.
Tagged
fat shaming
geoffrey miller
NYU
university of new mexico
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .