Millie Bobby Brown has had enough of the relentless scrutiny over her looks. During the press tour for her new film The Electric State, the British actress took to Instagram to push back against the barrage of negative comments on social media and in the press, naming the journalists responsible for targeting her appearance.
In a nearly three-minute video posted Monday night, Brown recalled growing up in the spotlight since her breakthrough role on Netflix's Stranger Things at age 10. "I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason people can't seem to grow up with me," she said. "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."
Brown read aloud headlines from four recent articles that dissected her appearance, openly calling out the journalists behind them. Among the headlines she mentioned were "Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown aging so badly" by Lydia Hawkin, "What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face" by John Ely, "Millie Bobby Brown mistaken for someone's mum as she guides younger sister Ava through LA" by Cassie Carpenter, and "Little Britain's Matt Lucas takes savage swipe at Millie Bobby Brown's new mummy makeover look" by Bethan Edwards.
"This isn't journalism, this is bullying," Brown declared. She expressed deep concern over the adult writers who feel entitled to scrutinize her face, body, and personal choices for clicks. "The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, is disturbing, and the fact that some of these articles are written by women makes it even worse," she added. "We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when it comes down to it, it seems a lot easier to just tear them down."
During her Electric State press tour, Brown has been candid about the challenges of growing up under constant public attention. In a previous interview with Vanity Fair, she shared that her early exposure to the spotlight had affected her ability to form friendships and develop social skills, admitting, "I don't have many friends, because of who I am." Brown also opened up about the pressure of being sexualized online from a young age—a factor that contributed to her temporary withdrawal from social media in 2022 and struggles with body image.
In her full statement, Brown emphasized that the criticism isn't just about her appearance, but about the way society treats young women. "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," she stated passionately. "Let's do better, not just for me but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without the fear of being torn apart for simply existing."
Millie Bobby Brown's message is a call to action against an industry and society that too often opts for tearing down rather than lifting up—and a reminder that growth should be celebrated, not punished.