Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown has opened up about how she handles body-shaming, likening the comments she receives about her appearance to "cyberbullying".
Speaking to Glamour, the actor revealed the "stuff she didn't ask for" when it comes to fame, pointing out how attention on her body is top of that list. "Some of the things that I found harder were people criticising my body, who I am, the kind of person I am, if I talk too much," she said. "Things like that – I didn't ask for those things. They’re cyberbullying."
Describing her experience within the acting industry, she called her time a "crazy ride" and recalled how growing up in the public eye impacted her. "My story is complicated and it's not like the regular kind of childhood," the 18-year-old added. On the advice she'd give to her younger self, Millie said: "I’d say, hold on. You are going to go on a crazy ride! Try and remember who you are and not the people around you. People come and go into your life and they can negatively and positively influence it."
She went on, "Understand that the only person you can hold on to is yourself, and don't lose yourself in that. Because it's so easy to, in this industry, especially at a young age. I got the brunt of it."
But it's not the first time she's called out this type of behaviour. In 2020, when she was just 16-years-old, she took to social media to hit back at the way she had been treated by the public and the press. "I get frustrated from the inaccuracy, inappropriate comments, sexualization and unnecessary insults that ultimately have resulted in pain and insecurity for me," Millie said in a post. "I hope this video informs you on the things that go on behind the scenes of the headlines and flashing lights."
More recently, the actor called out the "gross" change in treatment she's received since turning 18 earlier this year. Ahead of her birthday in February, 'creepy' forums had cropped up online counting down to the teen actor's 18th, with comparisons being drawn to the treatment other child stars also received, including Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Britney Spears and Emma Watson.
Chatting to the host on the Guilty Feminist podcast, Millie – who has been in the public eye since she was 12-years-old – said: "[I'm] definitely seeing a difference between the way people act and the way the press and social media react to me coming of age. It's gross."
