27 Celebrities Who Have Shut Down Body-Shaming In The Most Epic Ways
"I heard my body is a topic of conversation, so I wanted to say, I'm proud of my body, and you should be proud of yours too."
Hollywood has never been shy about policing bodies, and celebrities have spent years pushing back in public. From red carpets to Instagram comments, the same tired insults keep showing up, and so do the clapbacks.
This roundup pulls together 27 moments when stars were criticized for their looks, then answered in ways that made the internet pay attention. Some responses were funny, some were blunt, and some turned a nasty comment into a bigger conversation about body-shaming.
Here are the celebrity comebacks that shut it all down.
1. Lizzo
When a troll made fun of a family on TikTok, saying, "Your son really needs to go and at least exercise, he's gonna be the next Lizzo if he doesn't," the family took it as a compliment. So much so that they uploaded a video in response of them cheering with joy.
Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for the Recording AcademyAnd, of course, in true Lizzo style, the singer shared her own reaction video putting the troll in their place.
And, of course, in true Lizzo style, the singer shared her own reaction video putting the troll in their place.
Mike Marsland / Mike Marsland / WireImage / Getty ImagesShe captioned it, "Oh, you mean the next million-dollar dealin', cover of Vogue havin', 3x Grammy Award-winning icon, actress, activist, with a perfect ass?"
David Crotty / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
"Probably would have happened sooner if my childhood insecurities weren't exacerbated by years of public mockery about my body by press and interviewers."
Later on that same year, Jonah shared another message on his Instagram.
2. Jonah Hill
When the Daily Mail published a shirtless photo of Jonah at the beach, the actor responded with an Instagram post. "I don't think I ever took my shirt off in a pool until I was in my mid-30s, even in front of family and friends," he wrote.
Michael Ostuni / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Ariana wasn't about to let that one slide, so she replied, writing, "We live in a day and age where people make it IMPOSSIBLE for women, men, anyone to embrace themselves exactly how they are."
"Probably would have happened sooner if my childhood insecurities weren't exacerbated by years of public mockery about my body by press and interviewers."
"So the idea that the media tries to play me by stalking me while surfing and printing photos like this, and it can't faze me anymore, is dope," he continued. "I'm 37 and finally love and accept myself."
Matthias Nareyek / Getty Images
3. Ariana Grande
Back in 2015, a troll tweeted a stab at Ariana, writing, "Got asked if I'd prefer Ariel Winter or Ariana Grande lol. It would definitely be Ariel. Curves are sexy, sticks aren't."
Mike Coppola / Getty Images for Billboard
"I was a dancer, and I was athletic, and even my manager at the time, who I no longer work with, was telling me, 'You need to lose weight. You need to be thinner,'" she recalled.
Ariana wasn't about to let that one slide, so she replied, writing, "We live in a day and age where people make it IMPOSSIBLE for women, men, anyone to embrace themselves exactly how they are."
Neilson Barnard / Getty Images
"Diversity is sexy! Loving yourself is sexy! You know what is NOT sexy? Misogyny, objectifying, labeling, comparing, and body-shaming!" she wrote.
Mike Coppola / Getty Images for Billboard
"They brought in pictures of me where I was basically naked and told me to use them as motivation for my diet," Jennifer explained.
4. Jennifer Lopez
In 2016, JLo spoke to E! about being pressured to lose weight early on in her career. "They kept telling me to lose weight," she said.
Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images
"I was a dancer, and I was athletic, and even my manager at the time — who I no longer work with — was telling me, 'You need to lose weight. You need to be thinner,'" she recalled.
Christopher Polk / Getty Images
"Sometimes, I go through periods of time where I gain weight. My body is something I will NEVER apologize for."
"I was like, 'No, I don't. If I lose any more weight, it won't be me.'"
Denise Truscello / WireImage / Getty Images
5. Jennifer Lawrence
Much like JLo, JLaw was also fat-shamed early in her career. "Somebody told me I was fat, that I was going to get fired if I didn't lose a certain amount of weight," she said.
Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images for Christian Dior
Selena replied to the person, writing, "You're disgusting. I'm IN the business, and I could care less about what 'they' or you say I should look like."
"They brought in pictures of me where I was basically naked and told me to use them as motivation for my diet," Jennifer explained.
Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images
"If anybody even tries to whisper the word 'diet,' I'm like, 'You can go fuck yourself,'" she said.
Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images
"Comparison is one long, agonizing death and does not interest me at all."
6. Lili Reinhart
In 2018, rumors began circling on social media that Lili looked pregnant. The Riverdale actress took to her Instagram to set the record straight.
"This is just my body, and sometimes I'm bloated," she wrote. "Sometimes, an unflattering photo is taken of me."
Theo Wargo / Getty Images
When Charlie's body was scrutinized after a shirtless photo of him made its way around the web, he tweeted a response to the haters.
"Sometimes, I go through periods of time where I gain weight. My body is something I will NEVER apologize for."
Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images
In January this year, Melanie tweeted a response to some trolls who claimed to just "care about her health."
"Skinny does not always equal healthy," she wrote.
"My body will constantly go through change, and so will yours. And that's fine, so let's not put so much time and effort into caring about a stranger's figure," she said.
Kevin Winter / Getty Images
In 2015, notorious bully Katie Hopkins fat-shamed Kelly on Twitter. The tweets have since been deleted, but Katie had written, "Jesus, what happened to Kelly Clarkson? Did she eat all of her backing singers?"
Kelly responded to the nasty comments in the most positive way possible.
7. Selena Gomez
In 2015, someone commented on one of Selena's Instagram posts, saying, "You need to work out! Please stop eating junk food."
And in another post, they said, " She's an actress; she needs to tone her body. In the business, sadly, the image - it's important."
Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for WarnerMedia
Similarly, Katie Hopkins made some cruel comments about Lily Allen's post-pregnancy body.
During an interview, Katie said that Lily's pregnancy "largely involved gaining 2 stone and looking pretty hideous."
Selena replied to the person, writing, "You're disgusting. I'm IN the business, and I could care less about what 'they' or you say I should look like."
Gotham / GC Images / Getty Images
"I don't need to do anything other than love myself and take care of my work, fans, family, and friends."
Later that year, Selena revealed that she suffered from lupus. She has undergone several treatments for it, including chemotherapy.
Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for Critics Choice Association
In 2017, Sarah was taunted online for her thin figure. She was told that her head was "bigger than her body" and to "eat a burger."
This is the same kind of chaotic, unfiltered spotlight moment as Hollywood stars who wanted the Earth to swallow them whole.
Sarah posted a lengthy message on Twitter in response to the cruel comments.
"Positivity is what we need most," she wrote.
8. Kristen Bell
During both of her pregnancies, Kristen received a lot of criticism for how much weight she gained. In 2013, she said, "I refused to worry about something I could not change, and I still refuse."
"I had to surrender to not worrying about the way I looked, how much I weighed because that's just part of the journey of having a baby," Kristen said. "I am not a woman whose self-worth comes from her dress size."
Christopher Polk / Getty Images
In 2016, Jennifer took to HuffPost to address pregnancy rumors that kept surfacing about her.
"Comparison is one long, agonizing death and does not interest me at all."
Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic / Getty Images
9. Charlie Puth
John Shearer / Getty Images
In 2016, the Olympic medalist received some nasty comments after tweeting a photo of herself wearing shorts.
One man wrote, "Your back has more muscle than mine does." And several similar comments followed.
Simone quickly made a clever response.
10. Melanie Lynskey
Rich Polk / Getty Images
In 2016, Ashley Graham called someone out on her Instagram for saying her thighs were "cellulite city."
In January this year, Melanie tweeted a response to some trolls who claimed to just "care about her health."
David Livingston / Getty Images
11. Kelly Clarkson
Axelle / FilmMagic / Getty Images
In a review of her film Identity Thief, Melissa was called "tractor-sized."
In 2015, notorious bully Katie Hopkins fat-shamed Kelly on Twitter. The tweets have since been deleted, but Katie had written, "Jesus, what happened to Kelly Clarkson? Did she eat all of her backing singers?"
"Darling, if you had a baby a year ago, that is not baby weight, it is fat," Katie wrote. "Quit calling it cute names to make yourself feel better."
Ian Forsyth / Getty Images
Kelly responded to the nasty comments in the most positive way possible.
"She tweeted something nasty about me? That's because she doesn't know me," Kelly said.
"I'm awesome! It doesn't bother me," she said.
Jared Siskin / Stringer / Getty Images
When a shirtless photo of Jason on vacation began circulating, the actor was fat-shamed for his "dad bod."
12. Lily Allen
Chelsea Guglielmino / Getty Images
Lady Gaga slayed at the 2017 Super Bowl; however, she received a lot of cruel taunts afterward about her stomach.
Similarly, Katie Hopkins made some cruel comments about Lily Allen's post-pregnancy body.
Joshua Blanchard / Getty Images
During an interview, Katie said that Lily's pregnancy "largely involved gaining 2 stone and looking pretty hideous."
Samir Hussein / Samir Hussein / WireImage / Getty Images
When Gabby attended the 2014 Golden Globes, online trolls body-shamed the star using hashtags such as #ImSurprisedSheCouldFitInTheFrame and #IThinkSheAteTheGoldenGlobes
But the actress had the perfect comeback.
"Yes, after tragically losing a child so late into my pregnancy, I may have gained a few pounds," Lily responded. "I am one of many that find comfort in food."
"The two pregnancies that followed were terrifying because of what had happened before, and I was pretty much on bed rest for 20 months," Lily continued. "I wasn't exercising because I didn't want to take any risks, and funnily enough, the survival of my children felt more important than being thin."
Jeff Spicer / Getty Images
In 2018, Jameela was approached at the gym by a man who said he thought there were a lot of improvements she could make to her body.
13. Sarah Hyland
Jean-baptiste Lacroix / AFP via Getty Images
In 2017, Sarah was taunted online for her thin figure. She was told that her head was "bigger than her body" and to "eat a burger."
In 2018, Sarah revealed that she had kidney dysplasia. She had a kidney transplant, which her body rejected, and she lost a lot of weight at that time.
Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images
In 2019, Bebe shared a photo on her Instagram of herself performing. The comment section quickly turned nasty, with one person referring to her as "tubby."
Bebe responded with a series of tweets.
"The hate you breed... don't look pretty on you."
"I don't give two shits," the singer wrote.
14. Jennifer Aniston
Ethan Miller / Getty Images
In 2007, Tyra was mocked in the tabloids when photos of her in a bikini surfaced.
In 2016, Jennifer took to HuffPost to address pregnancy rumors that kept surfacing about her.
"For the record, I am not pregnant. What I am is fed up," the actress wrote. "I'm fed up with the sport-like scrutiny and body-shaming that occurs daily under the guise of 'journalism,' the 'First Amendment,' and 'celebrity news.'"
Gregg Deguire / WireImage / Getty Images
"The objectification and scrutiny we put women through is absurd and disturbing," she continued. "The way I am portrayed by the media is simply a reflection of how we see and portray women in general, measured against some warped standard of beauty."
Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images
In 2013, Alyssa was a presenter at a NASCAR Awards event. Shortly after, radio host Jay Mohr said some awful things about her post-pregnancy body.
Of course, Alyssa had the perfect response.
15. Simone Biles
Jamie Squire / Getty Images
When Kourtney shared a photo of herself in a bikini on Instagram, people decided that she "looked pregnant."
Kourt responded with a Tweet putting the haters back in their place.
16. Ashley Graham
George Pimentel / Getty Images
His response was everything. "Fat shaming only applies when you're ashamed of your fat," he said.
In 2016, Ashley Graham called someone out on her Instagram for saying her thighs were "cellulite city."
Mike Coppola / WireImage / Getty Images
During her coverage of the 2015 Oscars, Giuliana Rancic commented that Zendaya's hair made her look "like someone who smelled of patchouli oil or weed."
And, as only Zendaya can, she shut Giuliana down with a perfectly written response on Twitter.
"There is already harsh criticism of African American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair," she wrote.
One year on, actress Julie Klausner skinny-shamed the star, tweeting, "Zendaya's ultimate retort to Giuliana Rancic is starving herself down to the size of one of her elbows."
Of course, Zendaya had the perfect comeback for Julie as well.
"Love that shit."
So, there you have it. 27 celebrities who have shut down body-shaming in the most epic ways.
What's your opinion on body-shaming in Hollywood? Do you think celebrities bring it on themselves because of their career choice, or do you think they have every right to bite back at the hostile comments?
We would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Feel free to share your opinions with us in the comment section.
After Lizzo shut down that TikTok troll, read why Danielle Fishel couldn’t show her arms in Boy Meets World’s last season, too.