Body shaming is one of the cruelest forms of public scrutiny. No one is too big, too small, or anything in between. Yet celebrities face this kind of brutal judgment every single day. Many are now fighting back and using their platforms to change the conversation for good. Body shaming is a cruel form of public scrutiny that affects everyone, especially celebrities.
Many are now actively fighting back, using their platforms to promote body positivity and change the conversation for the better. If you have ever felt judged or criticized because of the way your body looks, it’s important to know that you are not alone. Many people share similar experiences and feelings about body image.
Taylor Swift, battling disordered eating in public
Taylor Swift has been one of the most body-shamed stars of her generation. In her 2020 Netflix documentary Miss Americana, she revealed that public scrutiny over her appearance drove her into disordered eating. She admitted that seeing a photo where she felt her stomach looked too big would trigger her to stop eating entirely.
Swift also hinted at starving her body in her 2022 song “You’re On Your Own Kid.” In 2024, trolls shamed her again by falsely claiming she looked pregnant. A 2024 study published in Social Science and Medicine found that her openness about her struggles has actually helped shift her fans toward healthier body attitudes.
Selena Gomez, shamed for a medical condition
Selena Gomez has been body shamed repeatedly because of weight changes tied to her lupus diagnosis. After her 2023 Golden Globes appearance, trolls flooded social media with cruel comments about her size. She laughed it off in a live stream with her nine-year-old sister Gracie, saying she enjoyed the holidays and did not care what anyone thought.
Later, in a February 2023 TikTok live session, Gomez got more serious and explained that her lupus medication causes water retention and weight fluctuations. She made clear she refuses to be shamed for a medical condition she cannot control. She encouraged her fans facing similar situations to hold their heads high.
Lizzo, trolled from every direction
Lizzo has faced relentless body shaming throughout her career. At the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, she called out comedian Aries Spears after he made vicious comments about her body in a media interview. She accepted the Video For Good award and delivered a sharp, confident clapback in front of millions watching live.
In January 2023, Lizzo posted a video in a bikini during her vacation and directly addressed her trolls. She said that artists are not there to fit beauty standards but to create art. She called the constant online commentary exhausting and declared that her body is art.
Sydney Sweeney, shamed in her own backyard
In December 2024, paparazzi photographed Sydney Sweeney relaxing by the pool at her Florida Keys home without her consent. The Daily Mail published the photos, and internet trolls immediately flooded the comments with cruel remarks. They called her average, chunky, and suggested she needed to lose weight.
Sweeney clapped back most powerfully. She posted a video montage of all the hateful comments, followed by clips of her training hard in the gym. The caption simply read “Just don’t quit.” Fellow actors, including Lili Reinhart, publicly defended her and blasted the trolls online.
Nicola Coughlan, turning shame into power
Nicola Coughlan, star of Netflix’s Bridgerton, has dealt with intense body shaming since the show began. In 2022, she posted a message on Instagram asking fans to stop sending her opinions about her weight. She explained that reading thousands of daily comments about her appearance was genuinely overwhelming and harmful.
By season three of Bridgerton in 2024, Coughlan had completely turned the tables. She specifically requested a bold and vulnerable nude scene in the show. She told Stylist magazine it was her way of saying “forget you” to everyone who had shamed her. She said she felt beautiful and wanted to remember that confidence forever.
Jonah Hill, men get shamed too
Body shaming is not just a woman’s issue. Jonah Hill was mocked by the press and interviewers for years about his weight. In a 2021 Instagram post, he wrote openly about how he struggled to take his shirt off at a pool for a very long time because of the public ridicule. He said his childhood insecurities were made far worse by years of media mockery.
Hill deleted his Instagram account in 2022 amid anxiety struggles. However, his post went viral and sparked a wider conversation about how men face body shaming, too. He said he was proud that the cruel comments no longer affected him and that he finally loved and accepted himself.
Kesha, turned pain into power
Singer Kesha faced a wave of body shaming in 2024 and responded on Instagram with confidence and fire. She told her trolls that their attempts to tear her down only made her feel powerful. She reflected on everything her body had carried her through, including an ACL injury while performing on stage and deep emotional heartbreak.
Kesha reminded her followers that she is proud of her body, no matter what critics say. She ended her message with a direct challenge to her haters, telling them to try harder. Her response was widely praised as one of the boldest celebrity clapbacks of the year.
Simone Biles, shamed from the gym floor to the internet
In 2013, Biles overheard a male coach say she crashed during a meet because she was too fat. She ran off the floor in tears and hid behind the curtains. She revealed this painful moment years later in her 2016 book Courage to Soar.
Growing up, boys at school also mocked her muscular build and she used to hide her arms under jackets. She eventually fought back and told trolls online that her body is hers alone to love. She said no one else has the right to judge it.
Khloé Kardashian, shamed into surgery
Khloé Kardashian has experienced some of the most public and prolonged body shaming in celebrity history. In a 2023 episode of The Kardashians, she revealed that the relentless body criticism led her to make significant changes to her appearance over the years. She admitted that even after cosmetic procedures, the cruel comments never stopped coming.
In 2021, an unedited photo of Khloé was leaked online without her permission. Her team worked to have it removed. She later explained in a candid Instagram post that she had struggled with body image her entire life. She said that after working so hard on herself, she deserved the right to feel good in her own skin.
Ariana Grande, told she was too thin
Ariana Grande has been body shamed for being too thin for much of her career. In 2023, she directly addressed years of public scrutiny about her size in a video that resonated deeply with millions of fans. She reminded people that you truly never know what someone is going through behind the scenes and why their body looks a certain way.
Grande pointed out that comments about someone being too skinny are just as harmful as comments about weight gain. She asked fans to be more conscious and compassionate. Her message pushed back against the idea that any body type is appropriate to criticize, whether someone appears underweight or overweight.
Featured Image: Photo by Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons.
