British Actress Millie Bobby Brown known for her role as Eleven in the hit Sci-Fi series Stranger Things, has found herself at the center of controversy in recent weeks. Yesterday, she posted a 3-minute video on Instagram lashing out media and the journalists by name who published awful articles with headlines like ‘Why are Genz’s like Millie Bobby Brown aging so badly’ and “Millie Bobby Brown mistaken for ‘someone’s mom’ as she guides younger sister Ava through LA crowd”, which was published on Daily Mail by Cassie Carpenter.
Millie Bobby Brown in “The Electric State”
The controversy began after Brown made an appearance at the premiere of The Electric State. As fans and media outlets took note of her more mature look, some began to criticize her for “aging badly.” Comments flooded social media, with some people calling her transformation “unnatural” and even going so far as to say she resembled a “soccer mom.” Comedian Matt Lucas made an inappropriate comparison between Brown’s appearance and his comedic character, Vicky Pollard, which further fueled the criticism.
What’s more disturbing is that these comments often come from people who are completely detached from the reality of what it’s like to grow up in the spotlight. Millie Bobby Brown has been in the public eye since she was just 12 years old. Fans have watched her mature, not only as an actress but as a person. Yet, for some, it seems as though they expect her to remain the same, perpetually frozen in time as the young girl they first saw on Stranger Things.
‘This isn’t Journalism, this is Bullying’: Millie Bobby Brown
Millie Bobby Brown has had enough of the relentless scrutiny of her appearance. In the Instagram video, the 21-year-old actress took a stand against the harmful comments about her evolving looks, calling out specific articles and even naming the writers behind them.
Captured from Instagram: @milliebobbybrown
In her response, Millie Bobby Brown directly addressed the media and online critics who had been dissecting her physical transformation, mainly following her appearance in The Electric State. She mentioned specific articles that focused on her aging and changing appearance, and in a bold move, called out the writers by name. “This isn’t journalism, this is bullying,” she said, conveying how these personal attacks went far beyond professional critique.
In the post, she pointed out how damaging these kinds of comments can be, especially when they come from people who do not truly know her. Millie Bobby Brown labelled the media’s treatment of her as “disturbing,” underscoring the negative impact that constant scrutiny can take on a person. She also said that the commentary wasn’t just limited to her looks but also extended to her personality and career.
In response to the online criticism, Millie took to Instagram to voice her frustration. “I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me,” she said, addressing the reality of maturing publicly. The actress explained how disturbing it is that people feel entitled to dissect and criticize her physical appearance. She also made it clear that she would not apologize for maturing, refusing to let the toxic environment of social media dictate how she feels about herself.
Her statement made it clear that what some outlets and people labeled as “criticism” was actually an act of bullying. She pointed out how disturbing it is that adults feel entitled to publicly judge and critique her body and face as though it were their right.
Matt Lucas’ Responds and Apologizes
Following Millie Bobby Brown’s public address of the criticism on her appearance, one of the journalists involved in the controversy, comedian Matt Lucas, responded and issued a public apology.
Lucas had compared Millie’s look to his character, Vicky Pollard, from Little Britain, which upset the actress. In his apology, Lucas clarified that the comment was intended as a joke and not meant to hurt her. He expressed regret for any distress his words caused and emphasized that it was never his intention to offend.