Fatty Arbuckle
The fat guy in the movie was in reference to when that actor in real-life got into some trouble by being accused of raping a girl at his 3-day party, who then dies .
https://www.thoughtco.com/fatty-arbuckle-scandal-1779625
Arbuckle was acquitted, but the scandal wrecked his career, anyway.
Here's an article from "Smithsonian" magazine:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-skinny-on-the-fatty-arbuckle-trial-131228859/