Millie Bobby Brown addressed fans and critics alike in a raw video on Instagram on the evening of March 4th. The 21-year-old British actress with 63.5 million followers expressed her disappointment in journalists and news outlets for their detrimental comments on the aging of young actresses, saying, “This isn’t journalism, this is bullying.” Brown, made famous for her role as Eleven in Stranger Things, was only 10 years old when she entered the acting world. “I grew up in front of the world and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me,” Brown explained.
The video was spurred by a series of articles released that Brown herself cited, calling out the Daily Mail in particular. Articles titled “Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown ageing so badly?,” “What HAS Millie Bobby Brown done to her face?,” “Millie Bobby Brown mistaken for ‘someone’s mom’ as she guides younger sister Ava through LA crowd,” and “Little Britain’s Matt Lucas takes savage swipe at Millie Bobby Brown’s new ‘mommy makeover’ look” were mentioned by Brown in her statement.
“They act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should look the same as I did on Stranger Things Season 1, and because I don’t, I’m now a target,” Brown commented.”The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, and my choices is disturbing.” These articles were not only disrespectful, but also targeted her appearance, analyzed her for any “work” she’s had done, insulted mothers around the world by suggesting looking like a “mommy” is a bad thing, and compared Brown to a sitcom character known for being obnoxious, moody, and lazy, Vicky Pollard.
Brown’s statement comes after years of watching celebrities get dissected for their clothing, their faces, and their bodies. These criticisms have caused many famous people to undergo drastic plastic surgery to “stop the aging process,” which they get hate for as well. Although many celebrities get blasted by the internet pretty often and usually shrug it off, Brown felt it was time to address the critics, 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.”
Brown also compared the aging of women versus men, explaining, “Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs.” Unlike men in the industry, who are praised for “aging like fine wine,” women in the industry are attacked left and right for aging, which is a normal human phenomenon! Brown’s statement ushered in a barrage of articles, some responding to her raw video, defending the media and the journalists, while others empathized with the actress’ experience. In the days following her videos, fans and celebrities applauded Brown and rallied their support and added their own experiences. Her courage in speaking out has sparked many conversations around the entertainment industry’s unrealistic standards forced on women. Many have called for journalists to be more responsible and compassionate and respect every person, regardless of their age or appearance.
Brown’s words remind every woman struggling with body image issues that empathy and understanding reign true, allowing young women like her to age in a society that nurtures rather than critiques. Brown ended her video with a call to action, “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.”
