Margot Robbie has revealed a troubling experience early in her career involving unsolicited body-shaming, shedding light on a disturbing encounter that ties directly into the broader issue of Margot Robbie body shaming in the entertainment industry. The Australian actress recalled receiving a weight-loss book as an unwanted gift from a male co-star, highlighting how pervasive body criticism has been throughout her rise to fame.
Margot Robbie’s Early Encounter with Body Shaming
Margot Robbie, who launched her screen career at 17 with the Australian soap opera Neighbours, recounted this incident during a joint interview with Charli XCX for Complex published on February 9. She described receiving the book titled French Women Don’t Get Fat from a male actor she worked with very early in her career. The book, she explained, essentially promoted restricting food intake.
Robbie expressed her shock and frustration at the gift, saying,
“Very, very early in my career, an actor I worked with, a male actor gave me a book called French Women Don’t Get Fat,”
followed by,
“and it was essentially a book telling you to eat less.”
She bluntly recalled her reaction,
“I was like, ‘Whoa, f–k you, dude,’”
before adding,
“He essentially gave me a book to let me know that I should lose weight. I was like, ‘Wow.’”
When asked about the identity of this actor, Robbie stated candidly,
“I have no idea where he would even be now.”
Struggles with Appearance Overshadowing Craft
Throughout her career, Robbie’s physical appearance has often attracted as much attention as her work, sometimes overshadowing the craft and characters she builds through intense preparation. In a 2017 interview with Wonderland Magazine, she voiced her frustration with how the media frequently prioritized aesthetics over her acting efforts.
She explained,
“It frustrates me when I work so hard to build the characters, creating childhood experiences for them that affect the way they react as an adult,”
and continued,
“All the reading, all the acting coaching, and then someone reviews the movie or interviews you and all they do is focus on the aesthetics.”
Robbie’s irritation was clear:
“You think, ‘F–k you.’ You’ve totally discredited the work I did and it’s not fair.”
Other Actresses Share Their Body-Shaming Experiences
Margot Robbie is far from alone in facing unsolicited comments and criticism about her body. Numerous other actresses have publicly recounted similar battles against body shaming in their careers.
Kate Winslet, the Oscar-winning actress famous for her role in Titanic, shared her painful memories during a December BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs interview. Reflecting on her younger days, she said,
“I was a little bit stocky,”
and recalled a drama teacher’s hurtful remark:
“Well, darling, you’ll have a career if you’re ready to settle for the fat girl parts.”
Winslet asserted,
“That wasn’t very nice, was it? It’s appalling the things people say to children.”
Contemporary Celebrities Speaking Out Against Body Shaming
Ava Phillippe’s Stand Against Judgemental Comments
Ava Phillippe, daughter of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, addressed body shaming publicly in a TikTok video in May 2024. She recounted receiving conflicting criticisms from strangers — one accusing her of being too heavy and another suggesting she was starving herself. Highlighting the illogical nature of these attacks, she pointed out that her weight remained unchanged during the interval of those comments.
Ava stressed,
“No one deserves to be picked apart for what they look like,”
and added,
“You don’t always know what someone’s gone through or what they struggle with. But no matter who you are… Your beauty exceeds such superficial measures.”
Bebe Rexha Responds to Criticism Over Her Body
After facing body-shaming remarks, Bebe Rexha openly addressed the criticism surrounding her weight and appearance. In June 2023, the singer tweeted,
“I know I got fat, I’m just so sick of people talking about it. NEXT!!!!!!”
She emphasized that weight changes are natural, explaining,
“Human beings go through weight fluctuations, it’s life and you don’t know what people are going through. Meds, disease, etc…”
Rexha has also criticized the fashion industry for refusing to dress her due to her size, advocating for body positivity by stating,
“Empower women to love their bodies instead of making girls and women feel less then by their size.”
She proudly declared,
“We are beautiful any size! Small or large! Anddddd My size 8 ass is still going to the Grammys. #LOVEYOURBODY.”
Rumer Willis Challenges Body Shaming Culture
After receiving comments accusing her of being too skinny, Rumer Willis addressed the harmful nature of body shaming. She shared a lengthy response on Instagram, explaining that the angle of a photo made her appear thinner than in real life and expressed frustration over people feeling entitled to criticize her body publicly:
“Coming for me in my comments and telling me how I’m too skinny or I need to eat is absolutely not helpful and extremely body shaming. Body shaming of any kind is something I will not stand for.”
Later, she posted a confident photo sunbathing, stating,
“For the haters….with love and gratitude kindly [kiss emoji] my [peach emoji], I’ll keep smiling regardless [peace sign emoji].”
Natalie Portman Denounces Pregnancy Speculation and Body Commentary
In February 2021, Natalie Portman was confronted by pregnancy rumors sparked by photos of her on set in Australia. She addressed the speculation with frustration on Instagram Stories:
“Hey, so I’m totally not pregnant…but apparently, it’s still OK in 2021 for anyone to speculate and comment on a woman’s body shape whenever they want? Do better @nypost.”
Christina Haack Responds to Weight Comments After Motherhood
Christina Haack from Flip or Flop spoke out after receiving comments on social media about her appearance post-pregnancy. Addressing accusations that she looked “really skinny” and needed to eat more, she clarified,
“This is actually the weight I’ve always weighed… You guys have just watched me have babies and then go back to my original weight. So don’t worry, everything’s fine.”
Nelly Furtado Silently Defies Body Shamers on Stage
Nelly Furtado made a subtle yet powerful statement during her performance at Manchester Pride 2025 by wearing an oversized T-shirt printed with an image of a woman in a cropped tank top and pushup bra. This silent protest against body scrutiny communicated her rejection of such criticism without uttering a word.
Meghan King Edmonds Pleads for Compassion After Weight Criticism
Following her breakup with Jim Edmonds, former Bravo personality Meghan King Edmonds addressed ongoing messages about her figure. In December 2019, she said on Instagram,
“‘Eat a burger.’ That’s what they say. I’ll be real with you: I’m too thin. But please, I deserve some grace. I am doing the damn thing with all of the dignity I can muster as I put my kiddos before anything else.”
Celine Dion Confronts Criticism Over Her Slim Frame
Legendary singer Celine Dion took on negative remarks about her thinness in an Entertainment Tonight interview. She defended her body, saying,
“Is there anything wrong about my body? I’ve always been very thin. I do ballet. I do a lot of stretching and I work out because it helps my mind, body and soul.”
She further added,
“If you don’t want to be criticized, you are in the wrong place. I take what’s good for me. I leave behind what is not good for me… I need to focus on what’s right for me, how I feel and, last but not least, you can’t please everybody.”
Lizzo’s Declaration of Self-Love and Personal Fitness Journey
In June 2020, Lizzo addressed body shamers during a TikTok video, emphasizing her autonomy over her body.
“Hey, so I’ve been working out consistently for the last five years, and it may come as a surprise to some of y’all that I’m not working out to have your ideal body type,”
she said. She went on,
“I’m working out to have my ideal body type, and you know what type that is? None of your f–king business, because I am beautiful, I am strong, I do my job and I stay on my job.”
Demi Lovato’s Resilience Against Negative Labels
Open about her struggles with body image, Demi Lovato spoke to Glamour in 2016 about ignoring fat-shaming remarks. She said,
“If somebody calls me fat, even in a vulnerable moment, I laugh to myself and think, I’m doing everything I can, so there’s nothing I can do about it.”
She added candidly,
“I don’t have a six-pack. Maybe I don’t even want a six-pack. It doesn’t sound very appealing.”
Halle Berry’s Witty Retort to Age-Related Body Criticism
After sharing a nude photo online, Oscar winner Halle Berry was criticized by a tweet stating that posting nude pictures in your 50s during menopause is seeking attention and lacks dignity. Berry responded cleverly,
“Did you guys know the heart of a shrimp is located in its head?”
shutting down the shamer with humor.
Camila Cabello’s Honest Message on Social Media Pressure
Camila Cabello opened up about the impact of unrealistic beauty standards in a heartfelt Instagram Stories post. She acknowledged the insecurities stirred by negative headlines and body-shaming, saying,
“My eyes accidentally ran over a headline of people ‘body shaming me.’ Honestly, first thing I felt was super insecure over just IMAGINING what these pictures must look like, oh no! My cellulite! Oh no! I didn’t suck in my stomach!”
She criticized the airbrushed and photoshopped images that distort young girls’ views of normal bodies. Cabello warned,
“AND FAKE IS BECOMING THE NEW REAL. We have a completely unrealistic view of a woman’s body. Girls, cellulite is normal. Fat is normal. It’s beautiful and natural. I won’t buy into the bulls–t today!!!! Not today satan and I hope you don’t either.”
Additional Voices Denouncing Body-Shaming Attacks
Bebe Rexha has consistently defended herself against comments aimed at her size, once tweeting firmly,
“I gained weight get over it”
after a fan’s remark about her figure. She has condemned the fashion world for sidelining women based on size and championed self-love.
Ayesha Curry, wife of NBA star Stephen Curry, refuted pregnancy rumors while holding her son Canon by clarifying,
“Absolutely not LOL, my 30 lb son is just breaking my back in every photo.”
When another comment claimed Canon’s weight was unhealthy, she firmly replied, “Excuse you? No. Just no.”
New mother Jana Kramer used Instagram in December 2018 to express frustration about rude comments following a photo of her post-pregnancy stomach. She described her healing journey candidly, mentioning multiple surgeries and ongoing pain, while imploring for kindness and understanding:
“Why do we women have to compare ourselves to each other and then shame?”
She called for women to support each other and embrace their unique bodies.
Candace Cameron-Bure shut down a troll who questioned her husband’s weight compared to hers, replying with confidence,
“If a 25 inch waist looks big to you…then you’re looking through an altered lens. Be well.”
Wider Context and Cultural Impact
Margot Robbie body shaming is reflective of a much larger cultural problem within and beyond Hollywood, where women—especially actresses—are subjected to relentless scrutiny over their appearance instead of their talent or professionalism. Stories from Robbie and a wide range of other women in the entertainment industry underscore how damaging unsolicited comments about body image can be, often leading to anxiety, frustration, and distress. The persistence of this issue shows that despite progress in promoting body positivity and self-acceptance, many celebrities continue to face harsh judgment from the public and media alike.
The collective responses of stars like Robbie, Kate Winslet, Lizzo, and Camila Cabello help to challenge unrealistic beauty standards and encourage self-love among fans and young women influenced by social media. Their openness about the psychological impact of body shaming reveals the emotional toll and demands for a more respectful dialogue around body image.
Looking ahead, the ongoing advocacy by Margot Robbie and other vocal figures may foster more awareness in the industry and society, potentially leading to healthier norms that prioritize talent and individuality over physical appearance. While backlash and criticism unfortunately persist, the refusal of many celebrities to silently accept body-shaming behaviors marks a significant cultural shift toward compassion and empowerment.
I know I got fat. I’m just so sick of people talking about it. NEXT!!!!!!
— Bebe Rexha (@BebeRexha) June 23, 2023
