Garcelle Beauvais’s Pink Strap-on Scene in ‘Survival of the Thickest’ Is a Statement About Reclaiming Time

There’s a specific moment in Michelle Buteau’s new Netflix series Survival of the Thickest that’ll leave you going, “Huh? Yeah, I think I’ll continue to watch this show…” and that’s at the end of the second episode – titled “Be A Bad Boss Bitch, Bitch!” – which concludes with an embittered ex-wife dropping a bright pink strap-on in her ex-husband’s coffin. Iconique! 

In the comedy series, Buteau plays Mavis Beaumont, a recently single and struggling stylist who changes the course of her life over eight 30-minute episodes. After discovering that her longtime boyfriend has been cheating on her, she dumps him and books herself a new celebrity client. Enter Garcelle Beauvais as the impossible to impress, A-lister Natasha, who is struggling with feeling confident in her curvy body. 

Natasha puts Mavis to the test and tells her that she needs a jaw-dropping outfit for an undisclosed event, and the 38-year-old stylist pulls out all the stops. Mavis dresses the former model in a floor-length emerald gown covered in sparkles, which Natasha pairs with her signature bob and leather gloves. 

Mavis sees their car pull up to the Angel Orensanz Foundation in New York City, an acclaimed synagogue that also hosts large events, and proclaims, “I love this place!” But little does she know that they’re attending a funeral. She trails behind Natasha snapping photos as they walk in and notes, “You’re the only one embracing color!” As they prepare for Natasha’s big entrance, Mavis becomes aware of the solemn atmosphere. 

“This is my ex-husband’s funeral,” Natasha explains as Mavis grows in confusion. She then demands her to continue taking photos as she approaches the coffin. Mavis protests the spectacle and Natasha launches into a heartfelt speech. “Listen to me, I don’t think I’ve ever felt like I was in my body until now. Thanks to you. I have waited for this day for a long, long time,” she tearfully explains.

Mavis is on board and follows Natasha down the runway leading to the coffin. The other attendees watch in awe and began snapping pictures on their phones as the former model struts and poses. Once she reaches the front, she leans forward to whisper to the corpse, “Goodbye, my love.” Natasha explains to the audience that her former lover discovered her as a model and says she “owes him” even though he left her for another woman.

Natasha leaves behind a parting gift for the deceased: a bright pink strap-on. “In the event that he gets to take his fondest possession, he won’t want to live without this,” she explains as she drops the sex toy into the coffin. “Enjoy this in the afterlife, Bradley.”

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Decider spoke with Buteau about the scene and Natasha’s motives during a phone interview prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike. “The whole Natasha character is very interesting… She doesn’t know how to go out in public because she can’t wear the same things that she used to wear and people are treating her differently,” the show creator explained. “So, the whole moment of her taking the strap-on out, when I pitched it, I just wanted a splash, but I also wanted something that was sex-positive.”

She added, “But also to get back to [the show’s themes of] reclaiming my time. I wanted that moment for her as well. If we’re out here talking about all these beautiful bodies and all these different relationships, let’s just do it.”

Buteau recalled the production process being “so fun,” and “not creepy” at all. The comedian said they were picky about what kind of strap-on to choose and examined a few options. Eventually, she decided on something pink and “vintagey.” Buteau also joked about the filming day, saying that everybody on set was having a good laugh. “Even the guy playing her dead husband in the casket! He’s like, ‘Look, this is sort of my niche, I’m always playing a dead guy. I think it’s like one of the best days of my life getting the strap-on thrown on me,’” she laughed. “Look if I can make dreams come true one coffin at a time and I’ve really done my job.”

Well, this is a trend I’d surely like to see happen.

Survival of the Thickest is currently streaming on Netflix.

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, Survival of the Thickest wouldn’t exist.