Star Trek: Voyager was a replacement for Patrick Stewart’s canceled The Next Generation, but things differed between both sets when it came to one aspect. Star Trek: TNG would’ve never allowed any of its stars to feel inferior, thanks to Stewart’s interference. Voyager star Garrett Wang did not have a great time on the set of his series due to body-shaming comments from the crew.
Wang’s co-star Robert Duncan McNeill also confirmed that the showrunner allowed several lines in the show that took a not-so-subtle dig at their body weight. Wang even recalled that the comments forced him to hit the gym to avoid future mockery.
Star Trek: Voyager Star Garrett Wang Faced Body-Shaming Comments From Showrunner
Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross’ book The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, the second book in the series that narrated Star Trek‘s history, included one dark tale from the Star Trek: Voyager set. The incident in the book pertained to actor Garrett Wang who played Ensign Harry Kim in the series. Wang, who appeared in all seven seasons, faced one issue with the writers (via Redshirts Always Die).
Wang shared that the writers were “very passive aggressive”. He shared that when he and co-star Robert Duncan McNeill gained some weight after eating junk food, the writers wrote an insulting line into the show. McNeill’s Tom Paris had to say to Harry Kim, “Promise me one thing, Harry. If we make it back alive…you’ll work out.”
Wang wasn’t happy with the line and took the issue up with showrunner Brannon Braga, he had a very unprofessional remark towards the actor. Braga shared that if Wang and his co-stars continued to eat as they did for the previous seasons, they would’ve to change the show’s name to “Star Trek: Voyager—Pigs in Space.” Braga shared:
Well, Garrett, if you and your fellow actors go down the same path of eating the way you have the past two years, we’re going to have to change the name of the show to Star Trek: Voyager—Pigs in Space.
Wang and McNeill personally shared the story of such snide remarks and the inclusion of insulting lines on their The Delta Flyers podcast. They pointed out that many lines in the Season 4 episode Demon included such fat-shaming lines. The costume department also insulted them by providing them with girdles to wear under their costumes. McNeill shared, “It was a razz on both of us, and it went on for a while — like, getting in shape.”
Wang shared that he hit the gym so that they would not “make any cracks at me in any future episodes.” The experience on Star Trek: Voyager might not have happened in Patrick Stewart’s earlier Star Trek: The Next Generation.
How Did Patrick Stewart Deal With A Somewhat Similar Situation in TNG?
Star Trek: The Next Generation initially had zip-up, full-body jumpsuits that didn’t look cozy at all. In Larry Nemecek’s book The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, Jonathan Frakes shared that everyone hated the suits (via SlashFilm). He shared that if an actor ate an extra donut for breakfast, everyone could see it. The costumes were changed only after Patrick Stewart threatened to sue Paramount.
Stewart allegedly had the star power in the set and used it to help his co-stars in the series. The actor, popularly associated with race-reverse casting, stood up for POC actors and female actors when they were often sidelined. It can be stated without doubt that any snide remarks from the crew towards the actors wouldn’t fly on Stewart’s set.
Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: TNG are now available for streaming on Paramount+.
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