Even as people from all over the world, from influencers to community activists, reject body shaming — it’s still happening. In fact, it often becomes more detrimental to celebrities that are constantly under the public eye. They’re expected to maintain “perfect bodies,” and if that illusion is broken, they are shamed for being “flawed.” Some celebs try to meet high expectations, but many others are ready say enough is enough. After all, being true to ourselves and embracing who we are is kind of important. We’ve found 15 celebrities that certainly think that’s true for them.
1. Lizzo
So, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Lizzo is basically the queen trailblazer of kicking some serious body-shaming butt.
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During the Red Room show at Sydney’s The Beresford , following criticism of her weight, Lizzo explained “I have nothing to hide. There’s no shame anymore. I just post myself. It’s like, you take me as I am. You don’t have to love me.”
2. Demi Lovato
After reading an article labeling them as “morbidly obese,” Lovato began struggling with their sobriety after many battles in the past. They had just finished rehab in 2018 when they felt discouraged by how easily someone could police their body.
They explained to PAPER , “That is the most triggering thing that you could possibly write about somebody with an eating disorder. That sucked, and I wanted to quit, I wanted to use, wanted to give up. And then I just realized that if I don’t look at those things then they can’t affect me. So, I stopped looking and I just really try not to look at anything negative.”
3. Hilary Duff
Celebrity or not, our bodies are meant to change and chronicle the experiences that have made us who we are. Unfortunately, it’s often women who are often the most shamed for the ways their bodies transform over time. So, when people came for Hilary Duff about her body after having children, she came for them about demeaning natural bodies.
She explained on Instagram , “Since websites and magazines love to share ‘celeb flaws’ – well I have them! My body has given me the greatest gift of my life: Luca, 5 years ago. I’m turning 30 in September and my body is healthy and gets me where I need to go.”
4. Jonah Hill
Following years of body shaming and policing, Jonah Hill was done. In 2021, he shared with Instagram followers and media outlets that he’s experienced years of “public mockery” and “insecurities” about his weight and, at 37, he finally loved himself. He opened up many doors for others, especially other men, to discuss body image and toxic celebrity culture.
5. Serena Williams
When professional athletes are the targets of body shaming, we know there’s a definite problem. Athletes often take the best care of their bodies to ensure they are healthy, yet they’re also picked apart for being “too strong,” especially for female-identifying folks who are Black. Serena Williams has been attacked by racist and sexist remarks that have tried to break her, but still she stands. In 2018, Williams told Harper’s Bazaar UK , “I’ll never be a size 4! Why would I want to do that, and be that? This is me, and this is my weapon and machine.”
6. Adele
Adele’s story truly proves that body policing is a no-win ordeal. One minute she’s labeled “too fat” and then after a significant weight loss, she’s now “too thin.” She has been pressured to both lose weight and to gain it by numerous “fans.”
During her interview with Oprah, she addressed how people fixating on her body isn’t new, “I [wasn’t] shocked or even phased by it — my body has been objectified my entire career,” she shared. “Am I too big or am I too small, am I hot or not or whatever — I never looked up to anyone because of their body,” Adele explained. She’s always believed in body positivity, regardless of her weight — she exercises for her anxiety.
7. Chrissy Metz
Chrissy Metz has been challenging fatphobia for awhile now, and she’s tired of the pressure to defend her body. Fortunately, her fans had her back in 2017 when she was body shamed on social media in response to her red dress that was custom made by Jordan Grossman.
Metz took to Instagram to thank her fans and call out toxic body policing, writing, “I hope that in some small way an unconventional body wearing an unconventional material opened up discussion, hearts and minds.”
8. Tyra Banks
Although she’s known for her fierce modeling career and tough love as the creator of America’s Top Model , Tyra Banks rejects body shaming. In a 2021 Instagram post, Banks took down unrealistic beauty standards by posting a picture of herself in bed and explaining that she does not, in fact, wake up looking like the picture. While promoting her ice cream brand, Smize Ice Cream on the post, she also wrote, “I genuinely am OBSESSED with ice cream.” She’s one woman that knows that being a beauty icon doesn’t mean losing who she is — or missing out on delicious ice cream.
9. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
This one almost seems too absurd to be true, but it is. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, known for being one of the most fit and attractive actors, has been constantly body-shamed. Before landing Hollywood roles, Johnson was a wrestler for many years. When auditioning for early projects, he was told that he was “too big” and to lose weight.
During a 2019 interview with Access , Johnson explained, “Basically, what they were asking me to do was ‘be everything that you’re not.'” Fortunately, the renowned actor decided to choose to be himself instead of taking their very lame advice.
10. Kelly Clarkson
One thing we love to report is that Kelly Clarkson doesn’t play when it comes to shutting down body-shamers. In 2017, one Twitter troll decided to test the waters and it was a bit of a man-overboard situation. While the Twitter user’s post has been removed, it involved them calling the American Idol winner “fat.” Lucky for us, Clarkson’s response is still alive and well to grace our Twitter pages. Garnering over 24k likes, people were absolutely in love with how so very unbothered the singer was. Haters gonna hate, but fans always celebrate Clarkson.
11. Will Smith
Amidst the pandemic, many people found their routines changing, including diet and exercise. The emotional toll of isolation and sickness was something that altered many realities — including the lives of celebrities. While many fans view Will Smith as a role-model, some of those same people were ready to shame him for his pandemic weight gain. In 2021, the actor took to Instagram with picture of himself with the caption, “I’m gonna be real wit y’all — I’m in the worst shape of my life.”
However, he explained in another post to the ‘gram, that, “…this is the body that carried me through an entire pandemic and countless days grazing thru the pantry. I love this body, but I wanna FEEL better.”
12. Sarah Jessica Parker
Another way that celebs (and most other people) just can’t seem to win with body policing it comes to being labeled “too skinny.” Sarah Jessica Parker’s weight has been the topic of the tabloids for years as the Sex and the City actor has been told countless times that she’s not consuming enough calories, with some publications even trying to break down her “unhealthy” weight ratio . During an interview with Oprah, she explained, “Actresses have this weight standard for professional reasons, but I think the standard is impossible for women in America.”
13. Jennifer Hudson
Before her significant weight loss, Hudson heard “cruel comments” about her weight. Even with a thinner physique, the cruelty remains. People continue to suggest that she’s “too skinny” now, when all along, she truly just wants to be recognized for her singing. Hudson once said, “I am who I am but there’s always someone not satisfied with how you look.”
14. Samira Wiley
This year, Samira Wiley spoke to PEOPLE about coming to terms with being body-shamed and her diabetes, which was diagnosed when she was 12. She felt like her body image was healthy until, someone made an unexpected comment during a photoshoot.
She explained, “I remember this one so vividly because feel like I have a healthy body image, and I was on the shoot and one of the outfits they put me in, was something that showed a bit of midriff,” she did, “And honestly, I thought it was fine. But someone on the set was like, ‘Oh, don’t worry. We can fix that in post.'” Wiley felt discouraged — at first. Then, she began adopting the idea of body gratitude and looking at her one and only body as sacred.
15. Alana Thompson (AKA Honey Boo Boo)
This child star quickly made a name for herself as a reality TV star with a lot of personality. Fans were quick to call out the issues of the beauty pageant world that Thompson navigated, but it wasn’t long before they came for her as well. The body-shaming never seems to end as Tweets, memes, comments and more circulate about Honey Boo Boo. At 16-years-old, she wants to be more than the assumptions others make of her. Last year, she told Teen Vogue , “Just because I got a little bit of extra meat on my bones, you want to hate me? I’ll never get body-shaming.”
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