Top 10 Times Celebs Clapped Back Against Body Shaming
#10: Lady Gaga
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In 2017, the “Born This Way” singer gifted us with an unforgettable Super Bowl halftime performance. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by critics who chose to focus on the singer’s exposed midriff instead. Lady Gaga has been open in the past about her body image struggles and how sick they made her. But on this occasion, she used the opportunity to share a message of body positivity. In response to the whirlwind of judgments, Gaga told her fans that she’s perfectly happy in her skin and urged them to feel the same about their own bodies. She capped it off by reminding her followers to be themselves unapologetically. Or in other words…
#9: Jennifer Aniston
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The “Friends” star has been under tabloid scrutiny for as long as we can remember. In 2016, after the umpteenth pregnancy rumor, Jen decided it was time to fight back. She penned an essay for Huffington Post about how she and other women are presented in the media and the harmful impact of this false representation on impressionable young people. Similarly, Britney Spears, who’s also spent decades in the limelight, uses her platform to call out those who profit from taking invasive and unwanted photos. As Aniston pointed out, her essay wouldn’t stop the relentless paparazzi. Still, it would give readers a new lens to view these unwarranted images.
#8: Beyoncé
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Bey famously uses her real-life experiences to inspire her music, going back to her days in Destiny’s Child. She divulged that the barrage of criticism she and her bandmates endured often left her feeling insecure. She also revealed that the group struggled to find designers to dress “Four black, country, curvy girls.” In response to all the negativity, she composed the catchy body-positive anthem “Bootylicious.” Sadly, she’d continue to face scrutiny over her fluctuating weight. But with years of experience and wisdom behind her, she found a new way of dealing with the haters. In an interview with Elle in 2019, she shared that “Giving zero [f’s] is the most liberating place to be.”
#7: Bebe Rexha
In 2019, the “Meant to Be” singer joined the growing group of celebrities to call out the fashion industry for body shaming. You might recall that model Ashley Graham disclosed that she had to skip the 2016 Met Gala because she “couldn't get a designer to dress [her].” Rexha, who had just received her first Grammy nominations, was reportedly turned down by several designers for being “too big.” She took to Instagram to share her disappointment and to blast the industry for upholding unrealistic beauty standards. She later said that at first, she was hesitant to speak out but ultimately chose to because it's the only way to inspire much-needed change.
#6: Florence Pugh
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The actress' opted for a tulle Barbiecore dress while attending Valentino's haute couture show in Rome. Unfortunately, for some self-appointed body critics, this look was a little too daring, and they saw the sheer fabric as an invitation to comment on Pugh's breasts. The "Midsommar" actress responded in a lengthy Instagram post, saying that while she wasn't surprised by the commentary, she was concerned by the audacity of those— primarily men— behind it. She talked about learning to love her body and refused to apologize for not meeting predetermined standards and expectations. It was the perfect way to fire back and call out the real societal problem. Other celebs flooded her comments with messages of solidarity.
#5: Grant Gustin
While there’s certainly a gendered double-standard in the public eye, even men can’t evade criticism and scrutiny. For instance, in 2018, a photo of “The Flash” actor was leaked, with many commenting on his “too skinny” physique. Gustin wasn’t here for the body shaming and took to Instagram to denounce those voicing negativity over his appearance. The actor said that he had no idea the photo was even being taken, let alone shared. He divulged that he’d been subjected to body shaming for much of his life but does what he can to stay in shape. He also reminded people that bodies change and that various outside influences, including stress, affect his eating habits.
#4: Billie Eilish
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Earlier in her career, Eilish was known for sporting a baggier style which she claimed was to stop people from passing judgment on her body. In 2020, The “Bad Guy” singer opened her concert, responding to the media and public’s unprecedented obsession with her body and look. She highlighted the hypocrisy of those who use her appearance to shame and judge her and others. Later, in 2021, she posed for the cover of Vogue with a completely transformative look that was met with a fair deal of backlash. Her response?: “Dress how you want, act how you want, talk how you want, be how you want.”
#3: Selena Gomez
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Growing up in the public eye, the former Disney Channel star’s sadly no stranger to public scrutiny. In her 20s, the singer suffered health struggles and saw her weight fluctuate, which of course, didn’t go unnoticed by the media or wider society. In 2022, she decided to shut down the haters on TikTok. In her video, she laughed at how people will always have something to say no matter what size she is, and she has just one response for them. Gomez continues to live her best life and strives to live in the present, away from criticism of strangers on the internet. She’s not here for any of that body negativity.
#2: Adele
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When the singer made her comeback in 2021, her slimmer build made headlines. However, Adele wants us to know that much of what we’ve heard about her weight loss is nonsense. The “Someone Like You” singer admitted that she’s well accustomed to her body being carefully examined by those who have no business doing so. But, she also blasted the people who were now trying to piggyback off her weight loss by claiming they’d somehow played a part in it. She explained that she had simply become more active to cope with her anxiety. In 2021, she told British Vogue: “You don’t need to be overweight to be body positive, you can be any shape or size.” Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Mindy Kaling Revealed That “The Office” Writers Once Joked About Using Her Weight as a Punchline Rebel Wilson She Talked About the Way the Media Treated Her Differently Before & After Her Weight Loss Vin Diesel The Actor Doesn’t Care About Always Being Super Fit Camila Cabello Cabello Is Done with the Body Shamers Serena Williams The Tennis Champion Says That She Sees Her Body as a Weapon
#1: Lizzo
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Lizzo’s always open and honest about being a plus-sized celebrity in a world that doesn’t celebrate body diversity nearly enough. She’s been criticized for her outfit choices and accused of selling out to diet culture. But she’s always on hand with a well-crafted response, whether that’s reminding the shamers that bodies aren’t meant to all look the same or sharing candid photos celebrating her curves. When someone started a cruel rumor about a stage-diving incident, Lizzo had the best way of clapping back. The “Good as Hell” singer often uses her platform to challenge mainstream body standards and advocate that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. It’s “About Damn Time” the world took note.
