Millie Bobby Brown responds to articles criticizing her appearance
Millie Bobby Brown has spoken out against a series of articles criticizing her appearance during her ongoing press tour for the Netflix film, “The Electric State.” On Monday, the “Stranger Things” actor posted a video on Instagram where she called out the media for “bullying” and “tearing young women down,” and addressed each journalist that had scrutinized her looks by name.
Over the past week, Brown has been the subject of several articles after she debuted a blonde ‘90s blowout while promoting her new film. While the platinum look, paired with ‘90s and Y2K-inspired ensembles, generated excitement among fans who hoped that it was Brown’s way of hinting at her role in a Britney Spears biopic, other publications criticized the actor for having “aged far beyond her years.”
Brown, whose career in the entertainment industry began at 10 years old, fired back at articles that questioned the changes in her appearance as she matured. Among those she called out had headlines such as “What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face?” and “Millie Bobby Brown mistaken for someone’s mom as she guides younger sister Ava through LA”.
“I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me,” said Brown on Instagram. “Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should look the way I did on ‘Stranger Things’ Season 1. And now because I don’t, I’m a target.”
Brown, now 21, pointed out that the focus on her looks was not only cruel but reflected the unrealistic standards directed at young women. “The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, it’s disturbing,” she said. “The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse.”
RELATED ARTICLE
Look of the Week: The hidden meaning in Millie Bobby Brown’s blonde blowout
She isn’t the only star who has fought back at judgmental comments made about their appearance in recent years. In 2023, Madonna similarly took to Instagram after photos of her performing at the Grammys went viral — sparking comments that she was “obsessed with plastic surgery” (the singer has never publicly addressed rumors of cosmetic enhancements). The 66-year-old musician wrote that “ageism and misogyny… permeates the world we live in,” adding that the world “refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45.”
Brown’s Instagram video — which, at the time of writing, has 1.6 million likes, accumulated in less than 12 hours — has received an outpour of support from A-listers such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Sharon Stone, Matthew Modine and Winnie Harlow. Brown herself ended the post on a defiant note: “I refuse to apologize for growing up,” she said. “Let’s do better. Not just for me, but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without fear of being torn apart for simply existing.”
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.
Up next
Most read
MORE FROM CNN
NEWS & BUZZ
Millie Bobby Brown says journalists are ‘bullying’ her
Stranger Things actor Millie Bobby Brown has criticised recent press articles about her appearance, saying “this isn’t journalism, this is bullying”.
The 21-year-old posted a three-minute video on her Instagram page, in which she called out article headlines and the names of the reporters who wrote them.
Brown has been on the promotion circuit in recent weeks for the press tour of her new movie The Electric State, whilst also making appearances at the SAG and Brit awards.
“I grew up in front of the world and for some reason people can’t seem to grow up with me,” Brown said.
She added: “Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things season one. And because I don’t, I’m now a target.”
The articles highlighted by Brown criticise her hair, face, body and style, with some insinuating she looks much older than she is.
“The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, is disturbing,” Brown said.
“That some of these articles are written by women makes it even worse,” she added.
Brown has grown up in the media spotlight since the age of nine, when she appeared in ABC drama Once Upon a Time in Wonderland and BBC America show Intruders.
Her big break came in 2016, when she was cast as Eleven in the Netflix’s sci-fi hit Stranger Things.
It led to worldwide recognition for Brown, who was nominated for various accolades at the SAG and Emmy awards.
In her social media video, Brown concluded: “I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress or how I present myself.
“Let’s do better, not just for me but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without the fear of being torn apart for simply existing.”
Brown has been praised by fellow actors in response to the post, including Sex and the City’s Sarah Jessica Parker, who wrote that she was “enormously proud”.
Brown’s co-star in Enola Holmes, Louis Partridge, commented: “Well said Millie. Handled with grace.”
Fellow former child actor and The Handmaid’s Tale star Mckenna Grace added: “No young woman or person deserves to feel pressure or cruelty for simply existing. You are so well spoken and so beautiful. Very well said, thank you for making this video.”
The TV presenter left the show in 2021 over his controversial comments about the Duchess of Sussex.
The actress has brought her film of ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night’ to the Glasgow Film Festival.
This week also sees the release of Split Fiction, R-Patz’s new film Mickey-17 and Meghan’s delayed TV show.
From Martha Stewart to Meghan: Why there’s no stopping the TV celebrity homemaker – and why “we’re in a retro domestic goddess moment”.
From Jade’s problematic dress, to Stormzy’s eye injury – here’s what really went down at the Brits.
Copyright 2025 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
Columnist admits ‘mishandling’ Rebel Wilson story
Amy Schumer hits back at comments about her face
Bezos focuses Washington Post opinion section on free markets and liberties
Ofcom receives 1,200 complaints over GB News show
Jordan media guide
Piers Morgan returns to Good Morning Britain after almost four years
Jessica Lange: ‘At a certain age in the eyes of Hollywood you are finished’
Lady Gaga is back, and Jennie’s debut solo album is here: What to stream this week
The unstoppable rise of the ‘domestic goddess’
Brit Awards 2025: The real winners and losers
Follow BBC on:
Millie Bobby Brown Calls Out “Bullying” of Her Appearance and Claims She’s “Aging So Badly”
After Millie Bobby Brown faced criticism accusing her of “aging so badly,” the Stranger Things star slammed their negative comments, saying she won’t “apologize for growing up.”
Millie Bobby Brown is sharing an important message.
After facing an onslaught of negative comments from trolls accusing her of “aging so badly,” the Stranger Things star called out the criticism for playing into a larger systemic issue for women.
“I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me,” Millie said in a video shared to her Instagram March 3, “something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny.”
Millie, 21, went on to reflect on her early rise to stardom, recalling that she was only 10 years old when she first got her start in the industry, and she scored her breakout role on Stranger Things shortly after.
“I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me,” she continued. “Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things season one. And because I don’t, I’m now a target.”
And random people on the internet aren’t the only ones who have singled out Millie, who previously clapped back at scrutiny about her appearance at the premiere of her film Electric State in February. In fact, the Enola Holmes star cited multiple news articles that criticized her for “aging so badly” or inquired what work she had “done to her face.”
“This isn’t journalism. This is bullying,” Millie stated. “The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, it’s disturbing. The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse.”
Millie also called out critics for tearing women down for clicks, adding, “We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when the time comes, it seems easier to tear them down for clicks. Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs.”
Despite all the hate that the Florence by Mills founder has been receiving, she emphasized that she refuses to “apologize for growing up.”
“I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman,” Millie said. “I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself.”
As for all the people who would rather “say something horrible rather than say something nice,” Millie—who tied the knot with husband Jake Bongiovi in May 2024 following three years of dating—urged them to look inward.
“If you have a problem with that, I have to wonder,” she said, “what is it that actually makes you so uncomfortable?”
Millie added, “Let’s do better. Not just for me, but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without fear of being torn apart for simply existing.”
Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and celebrity gossip. Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows!
© 2025 E! Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. All rights reserved.
