Matt McGorry’s weight gain was a major plot point in the new Netflix series Archive 81 premiered in the past year. Did this change have anything to do with the series?
Matt McGorry’s latest appearance highlighted his new ideas about how he should look, eat, stay healthy, and gain weight. The change isn’t recent.
For Matt McGorry, it began in 2020 when he promised not to put his mental wellness at risk because of fatphobia. Can we assume that this weight gain isn’t because of Archive 81? Let’s see!
Quick Info
| Full Name | Matthew David McGorry |
| Age | 37 years old (as of 2023) |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Profession | Actor and producer |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Known for | Orange Is the New Black and How to Get Away with Murder |
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | April 12, 1986 |
| Place of Birth | New York City, New York, United States |
| Education | Attended Emerson College |
| Alma Mater | Emerson College |
| Height | 5′ 10″ (1.78 m) |
Who is Matt McGorry?
If you’re confused by Matt McGorry’s weight gain, remember that he started as a personal trainer and fitness writer.
View this post on Instagram
In 2011, he first appeared on TV in the drama One Life to Live. He is well-known for his role as John Bennett in the 2013 show Orange Is the New Black.
In 2014, he starred in another TV show, How To Get Away With Murder. His latest role as Mark Higgins in Archive 81 is also intriguing. The 36-year-old actor’s sudden weight gain has been in the news since his last performance.
What Caused Him to Gain Weight?
McGorry has always kept his body in good shape. He was so passionate about exercise, bodybuilding, and dieting that Men’s Journal hired him because of his expertise and knowledge.
He worked with a personal trainer to attain the perfect shirtless look for his appearance in Orange Is the New Black (OITNB). But by 2020, he had had enough and began putting his emotional well-being first.
Matt realized that how he eats and works out is hurting his mental and physical health that year. He had to learn to embrace himself fully and develop a positive connection with eating.
It was finally time for him to stop being afraid of being fat and picky about his body and appearance. He built self-confidence even when not hitting the gym or tracking calories.
Now, he eats healthy food without boundaries; his life is easier. Matt McGorry knows and is okay with the fact that he has gained weight, which gives him confidence.
You might want to check out the weight gain stories of Jennifer Love Hewitt and Cole Sprouse.
How Did Matt McGorry Put on Pounds?
Remember John Bennett from OITNB? He was in great shape. But the actor who played this part, Matt McGorry, was always fat. He only got thinner by following strict diets and working out for a long time.
It took a lot of work to obtain and sustain that body. Letting it go was easier. In 2018, Matt realized his adverse thinking habits. He began modifying them, allowing him to enjoy his food and love his body.
Was Matt McGorry Weight Gain Intended For Archive 81?
It was when his appearance on Archive 81 that the benefits of his simpler lifestyle began to become apparent. Because of this coincidence, fans wonder if the actor’s weight gain has anything to do with his part in the series.
Archive 81 was inspired by a podcast with the same name that started in 2016. On January 14, 2022, Netflix premiered this series.
Dan is the main character in a scary TV show. He is in charge of restoring old cassettes. This quest takes a strange turn that involves looking into a cult.
Mark Higgins, the character Matt plays in the show, is funny and interested in the art of spying. Both jobs call for people who are a little bit fat.
Many fans thought that Matt McGorry put on weight just for this part because he looked like the character. James Wan, in charge of Archive 81, hasn’t said anything about this rumor yet. Neither has Matt or any of the other group members.
We can guess that the well-known director of the horror show picked Matt to work with because of his now-fat physique and the relaxed personality that he has grown to like.
Remember that Matt stopped being obsessed with fitness in 2020, two years before this show was filmed. So, you might not want to get in shape for the part because of this show.
McGorry Views on Lifetime Food Obsession
McGorry said that he started having problems with his weight when he was young, and other kids made fun of him for being “chubby.” He got a job as a personal trainer and lost weight and built up muscle, but it never felt like enough.
When McGorry saw his first shirtless scene on the big screen, he wrote, “My heart sank…I felt I should’ve been leaner.” Even though everyone else who saw the scene complimented his six-pack, McGorry still felt he needed to do more.
“I don’t want to make it sound like I wasn’t proud of some of my physical accomplishments because that’s not true,” he said. “But even after a lifetime of dieting, I never reached a point where I usually felt happy with myself. No matter what “fitness” goal I met, I never felt a deep sense of happiness that came from loving and respecting myself.
After accepting his body, he talks about it, saying.
“I’m worth so much more than worrying about food, exercise, and weight for the rest of my life.”
Matt McGorry’s Feelings for His Weight Gain
In 2020, when he became an advocate for body acceptance, he decided to take care of his mental health. He accepted his body and stopped tormenting it with extreme diets and fitness regimens.
After a few months of letting go, he said that his newfound freedom had changed his mental health.
In May 2020, he wrote an essay on Medium about how allowing his body to gain weight and get fat gave him a sense of freedom and satisfaction. Plus, he said that extreme diet limits on the set of OITNB often led to mood swings, irritability, and less energy.
He used to look in the mirror several times a day to make sure he was on the right track to what he thought was the perfect body.
The article also talks about how he kept himself in shape by being hard on himself and telling himself bad things.
He said that although choosing to live a healthier and happy life has benefits, some people don’t like it. He’d be happy if people didn’t care so much about his weight gain or health.
Fans’ Response to Matt’s Weight Gain?
Matt’s first appearance after the OITNB show was in a horror movie. By chance, the film also brought attention to the actor’s commitment to body acceptance. Due to this coincidence, fans thought that Matt’s change was linked to his role in Archive 81.
Some of the fans couldn’t believe it. Others were afraid that Matt had stopped trying. Few of these fans knew Matt had changed his mind and were okay with it.
The Final Note
Matt McGorry’s weight gain shows that guys should be more positive about their bodies and accept themselves. Matt wants you to appreciate him without thinking about Archive 81 or anything else that has happened in his life.
Read Next: Katy Mixon Weight Gain: The True Story 2023
