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.”
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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.”
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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.”
Tributes have been paid to the 64-year-old comedy writer, who died in an “accident overseas”.
The BBC’s Daniela Relph takes a look at the Duchess of Sussex’s new lifestyle series, ‘With love, Meghan’.
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.
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