Written By: Prerna Mittra | Updated : March 4, 2025 3:01 PM IST
Millie Bobby Brown Addresses Bullying And Body-Shaming Comments: 'I Will Not Be Shamed For How I Look' (Photo: Instagram/@milliebobbybrown)
'Stranger Things' actor Millie Bobby Brown is no stranger to trolling and harsh comments that come her away often, a result of being in the public eye from a very young age. But now, it seems that the actor has had enough of the scrutiny. And she is fighting back and sharing a piece of her mind with her bullies, who have been critical of her physical appearance for many months now. In the past, Millie would take things lightly, dropping just a tweet here and there while responding to people making unnecessary comments about her age. There has been a constant spotlight on the former child actor -- from how she dresses, to how she does her makeup, wears her hair, etc., and whether she looks 'older' than her age. Millie is 21 years of age. She got married last year to actor and model Jake Bongiovi, and has been enjoying marital bliss despite editorials being written about her decision to marry early. Earlier in the day, she gave it back to her critics by taking to her social media account and sharing a video. Take a look.
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The star of 'Enola Holmes' started her post by saying: "I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me, something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny. I think it's necessary to speak up about this."
Millie went on to say, "I started in this industry when I was 10 years old. I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can't seem to grow with me. 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 1. And because I don't, I'm now a target."
As mentioned earlier, the general narrative has been that Millie looks far older than her age. That she grew up 'too soon', and got married 'too early', all of which have garnered unusual curiosity and interest among her fans and critics alike, notwithstanding the fact that the actor, even though a public figure, is a human being, and it has been affecting her mentally.
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In her video, Millie highlighted certain articles, calling out the 'journalists' who wrote them and settled for mediocre, body-shaming headlines that can be accepted as borderline digital bullying. "Let's talk about the articles, the headlines, the people who are so desperate to tear young women down. 'Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown ageing so badly?' by Lydia Hawken. 'What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face?' by John Ely. 'Millie Bobby Brown mistaken for someone's mom as she guides younger sister Ava through LA' by Cassie Carpenter. 'Little Britain's Matt Lucas takes savage swipe at Millie Bobby Brown's new 'mommy makeover' look' written by Bethan Edwards, amplifying an insult rather than questioning why a grown man is mocking a young woman's appearance," the young actor pointed out.
Millie was the breakout star of the hit Netflix series 'Stranger Things', portraying the role of 'Eleven', a child with telekinetic powers. As her character grew up on screen, the actor also grew up in real life. Besides, it has often been seen that female celebrities are scrutinised to the point of oblivion. Millie's co-stars from the cult show, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, and Gaten Matarazzo have not been subjected to such abject trolling and online criticism dressed in the garb of 'journalistic freedom'.
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"This isn't journalism," Millie stated plainly in her Instagram video. "This is bullying. The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, it is disturbing."
"The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse. 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 cannot handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs. I refuse to apologise for growing up. I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who cannot handle seeing a girl become a woman. I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself."
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The actor continued by showing a mirror to the society: "We have become a society where it is so much easier to criticise than to pay a compliment. Why is the knee-jerk reaction to say something horrible rather than to say something nice? If you have a problem with that, I have to wonder what is it that actually makes you so uncomfortable? 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."
More power to the actor for taking up this issue and making some crucial points about female agency and unwarranted scrutiny.
