South Philly Author Uses Billboard to Challenge Perceptions of Fatness

Emma Copley Eisenberg rented a billboard on I-95 to promote her new book 'Fat Swim' and raise awareness about body positivity.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 9:52pm

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Emma Copley Eisenberg, a South Philadelphia author, used a $3,000 settlement from an AI copyright lawsuit to rent a 44-foot-high billboard on I-95 North to promote her new book 'Fat Swim.' The billboard features an image of a nude, fat woman with the text 'Your gut is a terrible thing to lose.' Eisenberg hopes the billboard will interrupt the algorithm-driven world of book marketing and directly reach people with her message of fat liberation and body positivity.

Why it matters

Eisenberg's billboard is a bold, analog statement against the digital algorithms and corporate control that dominate modern book marketing. In an era where GLP-1 weight loss drugs are heavily advertised, Eisenberg wants to amplify messages that celebrate fat bodies and challenge the notion that being large is inherently bad. The billboard aims to directly reach people who may not otherwise encounter Eisenberg's work and ideas about fat liberation.

The details

Eisenberg used part of a $1.5 billion settlement she received after her 2020 book was illegally used to train AI language models. She paid $1,500 to rent the billboard for six weeks, which is expected to be seen by 1.8 million people per month. The billboard features an image of a nude, fat woman created by local artist Devin Dadoly. Eisenberg hopes the billboard will cut through the 'cyber noise' and directly connect readers with her book 'Fat Swim,' a collection of short stories centering Philadelphia-area fat people, many of whom are queer.

  • The billboard was installed on April 13, 2026.
  • Eisenberg's book 'Fat Swim' is scheduled to be released on April 28, 2026.

The players

Emma Copley Eisenberg

A South Philadelphia author whose forthcoming book 'Fat Swim' explores themes of fat liberation and body positivity.

Devin Dadoly

A Downington, Pennsylvania artist whose sensual depictions of fat bodies were licensed by Eisenberg for the billboard image.

Art Phung

Eisenberg's partner, a graphic designer who edited the billboard image to give it a 'wavy water' aesthetic.

Anthropic

An AI research company that Eisenberg sued for illegally downloading and storing millions of copyrighted books, including her own, to train its language models.

Lamar Advertising

The outdoor advertising company that Eisenberg paid $1,500 to rent the 44-foot-high billboard on I-95 North in Philadelphia.

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What they’re saying

“We just so rarely see images of fat people in public.”

— Emma Copley Eisenberg, Author

“There is wisdom in the body. There are emotional and spiritual consequences when we view our whole selves as disgusting.”

— Emma Copley Eisenberg, Author

“What she's doing is incredibly radical. As someone who is a fat person and who proudly identifies that way, I want to be seen. I don't hate my body. I'm not a means to an end. I'm not some 'Before' image.”

— Devin Dadoly, Artist

What’s next

Eisenberg will host a book party for 'Fat Swim' when it is released on April 28, 2026, and will go on a small book tour that includes an April 30 appearance at the Ethical Society sponsored by The Head and The Hand Book Store.

The takeaway

Eisenberg's bold use of a billboard to promote her book and challenge perceptions about fatness represents a creative, analog approach to book marketing in an increasingly algorithm-driven world. Her message of fat liberation and body positivity aims to directly reach people who may not otherwise encounter these ideas, providing a powerful counterpoint to the weight loss messaging that dominates much of popular culture.