Millie Bobby Brown slams 'horrible' media coverage of her looks: 'I'm now a target'
Millie Bobby Brown is fighting back, once again, against hateful comments on her appearance.
The "Stranger Things" star issued a public service announcement about the "bullying" comments she has gotten about her appearance. In an Instagram video posted Monday, the 21-year-old actress slammed comments about her "aging badly," calling the issue "bigger than me" and "something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny."
Brown has grown up working on the sci-fi series, which wrapped filming its final season in December. She was 12 when the first episodes hit Netflix, which she said has made people have unrealistic views on how she "should" look.
"I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can't seem to grow with me," she wrote in the caption. "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."
The actress previously called out people who claimed she looked older than she is. Brown seemed to respond to the brash negativity in her comments with a since-expired post on her Instagram story to kick off the New Year. At the time, she succinctly wrote in black text over a white background: "women grow!! not sorry about it :)"
Millie Bobby Brown hits back at Daily Mail writers: 'This isn't journalism'
Now, the "Enola Holmes" star has time. She called out writers of Daily Mail headlines like "Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown ageing (sic) so badly?" and "Millie Bobby Brown mistaken for someone's mom as she guides younger sister Ava through LA" for their "horrible" and harmful coverage.
She called out the writer of a Daily Mail article dubbed "Little Britain's Matt Lucas takes savage swipe at Millie Bobby Brown's new 'mommy makeover' look" for "amplifying an insult rather than questioning why a grown man is mocking a young woman's appearance."
Brown continued: "This isn't journalism. This is bullying. The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, it's disturbing. The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse."
Paste BN has reached out to the Daily Mail for comment.
She continued: "We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when the time comes, it seems easier to tear them down for clicks."
The Florence by Mills founder, who has previously opened up about being a feminist, emphasized her agency over her appearance.
"Disillusioned people can't handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs," she said. "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."
Brown ended with a call to action: "Let's do better."
"Not just for me, but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without fear of being torn apart for simply existing," she said.
Matt Lucas clarifies 'savage swipe' at Millie Bobby Brown, offers apology: 'I was mortified'
Lucas, 51, responded to his own involvement in the controversial media articles, saying taking down the young actress is not his "style."
The actor provided context, saying the Daily Mail article referenced him comparing Brown to a character from his BBC sketch comedy show "Little Britain," framing it as the comedian taking a "savage swipe" at her.
"There was a character in it called Vicky Pollard, who had blonde hair and always wore a pink top, and in the photo you had blonde hair and wore a pink top so I pointed out the similarity by posting one of her catchphrases," he wrote on Instagram Monday. "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."
He continued: "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."
Later Tuesday evening, Brown was spotted at the London screening of her upcoming movie "The Electric Slate." The sci-fi adventure movie, distributed by Netflix and out March 7, also stars Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Stanley Tucci and Colman Domingo.
Brown looked dazzling in a strapless, fitted red gown with a bold red lip.
This story has been updated to include additional information.