Millie Bobby Brown has hand enough. The British actress took to Instagram on Monday night, to hit back more forcefully at people on social media and the press who have commented on her appearance during the press tour for her new movie The Electric State, and also went so far as to name the journalists who have written stories about her appearance publicly.
In a near three-minute video, Brown discussed how she had been in the public eye since the age of 10, when she was break out star on Netflix’s monster hit series Stranger Things. “I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason people can’t seem to grow up with me,” Brown said. “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.”
Brown read out headlines from four recent stories about her that focused on her appearance, and also named the journalists who wrote them. She added that the stories were not “journalism, this is bullying.”
She added, “The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, is disturbing, and the fact that some of these articles are written by women makes it even worse. We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when it comes down to it, it seems a lot easier to just tear them down for clicks.”
Brown has been candid on the recent Electric State press tour about her unusual upbringing in the limelight. “I don’t have many friends, because of who I am,” Brown revealed to Vanity Fair. “I didn’t go to school, so I don’t have the best social skills when it comes to people my own age and friendships. I struggle with that quite a bit. I missed out on a few things. But I’m working through them.”
She also discussed with Vanity Fair how she has been sexualized online from an early age, which led her to delete social media for a period in 2022 in addition to her problems with body image.
Read Brown’s full statement below.
Hi everyone, it’s Milly.
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 this is very necessary to talk about.
I started in the 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 up 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 one, and because I don’t, I’m now a target.
I want to talk about some of the articles that have recently released while I’m on my press tour, and some of the writers who are so desperate to tear young women down.
One article reads, “Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown aging so badly” written by Lydia Hawkin.
“What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face,” written by John Ely.
“Millie Bobby Brown mistaken for someone’s mum as she guides younger sister Ava through LA” written by Cassie Carpenter.
Another article reads, “Little Britain’s Matt Lucas takes savage swipe at Millie Bobby Brown’s new mummy makeover look,” written by Bethan Edwards.
Amplifying an insult rather than questioning why a grown man is mocking a young woman’s appearance. This isn’t journalism, this is bullying.
The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, is disturbing, and the fact that some of these articles are written by women makes it even worse.
We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when it comes down to it, it seems a lot easier to just tear them down for clicks.
Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not their own.
I refuse to apologize for growing up. I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman.
I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress or how I present myself. We have become a society where it’s so much easier to criticize than it is to pay a compliment. Why is it the knee jerk reaction to say something horrible rather than just 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 the fear of being torn apart for simply existing.
Thank you.