Millie Bobby Brown slams press for 'bullying' her over looks: 'I'm now a target'

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Millie Bobby Brown is taking aim at journalists who are writing articles “dissecting” her looks.

In an impassioned video posted to her Instagram, the Stranger Things star blasted articles that continually focus on her appearance.

“I started in this industry when I was 10 years old,” Brown said in her video that has been viewed nearly 30 million times. “I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me. 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 1. And because I don’t, I’m now a target.”

Brown, 21, named some of the writers and headlines that have aimed to shame her publicly, dismissing them as “people who are so desperate to tear young women down.”

She then read out loud some of the headlines that have been written about her, including ones published by British tabloid the Daily Mail: “Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown ageing so badly?” written by Lydia Hawken, “What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face?” by John Ely and “Millie Bobby Brown mistaken for someone’s mom as she guides younger sister Ava through LA” by Cassie Carpenter.

Brown also took issue with Bethan Edwards’ article in which she quoted Little Britain’s Matt Lucas for joking about the actress’ “‘mommy makeover’ look” because it was “amplifying an insult rather than questioning why a grown man is mocking a young woman’s appearance.”

Lucas said he was “mortified” by reports that he had “slammed” her.

“Nearly 25 years ago I co-wrote and appeared in a sketch show called Little Britain. 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,” Lucas wrote on Instagram. “I would not have posted it if I had thought it would have upset you but I realize it has and for that I apologize.” 

The British actress has been making the press rounds in support of her upcoming Netflix movie, The Electric State, appearing at the BRIT Awards over the weekend and walking red carpet events in Madrid and Los Angeles.

Brown called the recent spate of stories a form of “bullying” and said she won’t be “shamed” for her looks.

“This isn’t journalism. This is bullying,” Brown told her more than 63 million followers. “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.

“We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when the time comes, it seems easier to tear them down for clicks. Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs. I refuse to apologize for growing up. 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.”

The two-time Emmy nominee continued to say “we have become a society where it’s so much easier to criticize than it is to pay a compliment” and wondered aloud “why is the knee-jerk reaction to say something horrible rather than to say something nice?”

“If you have a problem with that, I have to wonder — what is it that actually makes you so uncomfortable?” she asked 

Brown concluded her message by urging journalists to “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.

Brown limited responses to her post, but her message had been liked by more than 2.5 million accounts.

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker and British race car driver Lewis Hamilton said they were “proud” of her for speaking out.

“Beautifully said,” Sharon Stone added. “It really doesn’t matter our age or stature, we must be willing to own ourselves fully (and) not fall to the false ideology of (the) tear-down media. Good job my friend.”

Brown, who is married to Jake Bongiovi, opened up recently to Vanity Fair about growing up in the constant glare of the limelight. She also addressed her problems with body image.

“I don’t have many friends, because of who I am,” Brown told the outlet. “I didn’t go to school, so I don’t have the best social skills when it comes to people my own age and friendships. I struggle with that quite a bit. I missed out on a few things. But I’m working through them.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com