Millie Bobby Brown Addresses the Media for Targeting Young Women Regarding Their Appearance

Millie Bobby Brown, famously known for her role in Stranger Things, has spoken out against the intense public scrutiny she has been facing as a young woman in the spotlight. In a recent Instagram video, she addressed how media and online discussions often focus on criticising her appearance rather than recognising her growth.

Brown, who began acting at just ten years old, noted how people, particularly news outlets, struggle to accept that she has matured. She called out reporters by their names and their headlines that speculated about changes in her face, compared her to a mother, and amplified negative comments from others. She condemned this behaviour as bullying, highlighting the unsettling reality that even adult journalists — including women — participate in such scrutiny.

She called out specific headlines that questioned her appearance, including one that read, “Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown ageing so badly?” and another that inquired, “What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face?” She also criticised a piece that amplified a negative comment from actor Matt Lucas, questioning why a grown man was mocking a young woman’s looks.

Following her statement, Matt Lucas apologised, clarifying that his words were misrepresented. He stated, “I thought you looked terrific and I was mortified when the press wrote that I ‘slammed’ you, firstly because that’s not my style, and secondly because I think you’re brilliant. I would not have posted it if I had thought it would have upset you but I realise it has and for that I apologise.”

In her statement, Brown firmly stated that she will not apologise for growing up. She challenged the notion that young women should remain frozen in time to meet unrealistic expectations. She also questioned why criticism is always the natural response, highlighting how society often degrades young women instead of uplifting them.

Her statements sparked widespread praise from fans and celebrities like actor Louis Partridge, her Enola Holmes co-star, who stated, “Well said Millie, handled with grace.”

Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad complimented her for standing up for herself, calling her “a beautiful example of grace and maturity.”

Fans also quickly rallied around her, with many highlighting the larger issue of women continually being evaluated by their beauty.