The highly anticipated fifth season of Stranger Things is out and social media is invaded by memes and scenes from the TV series, but the spotlight is above all on Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven.
It’s a shame, however, that in most cases she was targeted by insults and vitriolic criticism. For what? For his physical appearance. The British actress, who is 21, is accused of being “remade”, “unrecognizable” and “inexpressive”. Many do not forgive her for having grown up and not remaining the 12-year-old girl of the first season of the series, forever crystallized in the collective imagination.
The right to change and evolve without being judged
A part of public opinion does not seem to accept a very simple truth: faces change, bodies evolve. The problem, however, is that women – especially if famous – are not granted this change. Just a few months ago the actress had vented her feelings on social media by describing her discomfort at constantly being under the (deforming) magnifying glass of fans, inappropriate journalists and the media in general and not for her talent. An English tabloid even had the headline “Why do Gen Zs like Millie Brown age so poorly?”.
“I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than me,” begins the actress, who just turned 21 in February, “something that affects every young woman growing up in the spotlight. I think this needs to be talked about. I started in this industry when I was 10. I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t grow up with me. Instead they act like I should be stuck in time, like I should still be like when I was in the first season of Stranger Things. This is not journalism. This is bullying. The fact that adult writers spend their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, is disturbing. The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse.”
Millie Bobby Brown isn’t in it: she has no intention of letting herself be crushed by this machine which is like a meat grinder towards those who work in the entertainment world.
“Disappointed people can’t bear to see a girl become a woman on her own terms, not theirs. I refuse to apologize for growing up. – she continues in the outburst video – I refuse to repress myself to live up to the unreal expectations of people who can’t bear to see a girl become a woman. I will not be ashamed of how I am, how I dress, or how I present myself. We have become a society where it is much easier to criticize than to give a compliment. Because the instinctive reaction is to say something horrible rather than saying something nice? If this is a problem for you, I ask myself: what is it that makes you so uncomfortable? Not just for me, but for every little girl who deserves to grow up without fear of being torn apart for simply existing.”
Lucid, direct words, difficult to dispute. Yet, despite everything, the mechanism repeats itself and the meat grinder returns to action. Ruthless articles and comments multiply, women’s bodies remain a terrain of public judgement. A sign that, evidently, we have not yet learned that lesson.
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