People have been criticizing celebrities’ bodies for over a century now, since early Hollywood in the 1920s. After stars rise to fame, fans believe they have the right to comment on these stars’ bodies and share what fans believe is healthy out of concern. As beauty standards change and adapt with the culture and technology of each time period, people have become harsher and more judgmental about celebrities’ looks.
The excuse of ‘concern for their health’ is simply a mask used to intrude in celebrities’ privacy. Fans of Ariana Grande, for example, often comment about her health, making assumptions based on her physical appearance. However, Grande revealed that public opinions on whether her physique was healthy or not were often inaccurate and false.
“We also have to remember that comments about someone’s appearance (whether they’re meant as compliments or criticisms) can reinforce the idea that our value is tied to how we look,” Rachel Goldman, a psychologist and professor at the NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine, stated. Though famous personalities are much more than their looks, – consider their art and talents – fans look past their art and talent to critique their bodies and appearances, immediately reducing them to just their looks.
Social media especially has fueled this shaming of celebrities’ bodies via personal opinions. Celebrities are human beings too, not public property, and fans should not shamelessly share their beliefs regarding how healthy people’s bodies seem to be. People must learn to respect celebrities’ boundaries.
