Lili Reinhart opened up about her struggle with body dysmorphia after fans criticized her recent Harper’s Bazaar comments
Body dysmorphia affects people of every shape, age, and size, which is why we’re so glad Riverdale actress Lili Reinhart is speaking out about her experiences with the disorder and taking internet trolls to task.
In a recent old Hollywood-inspired video shoot for Harpar’s Bazaar, Reinhart was asked about her retro fashion icons. “I’ve always really loved old Hollywood glamour and fashion,” Reinhart says over images of her in various retro outfits. “There’s so many iconic women — Veronica Lake, Lauren Bacall, Marilyn, Audrey, Grace Kelly. Marilyn is an inspiration to me in the sense that she was a curvy girl and she had boobs and she didn’t have a 24-inch waist, and to me that’s really inspiring. It makes me feel like my body can be accepted.”
"Marilyn Monroe was a curvy girl: she had boobs and she didn’t have a 24-inch waist. To me that’s really inspiring and makes me feel like my body can be accepted." —@lilireinhart channels the icons of Old Hollywood and talks life in the spotlight: https://t.co/z7b8GMWfej pic.twitter.com/SO0JK7B5wk
— Harper's Bazaar (@harpersbazaarus) July 2, 2018
However, some fans took issue with Reinhart’s admission that she struggles with body acceptance.
"I love her so much but she's acting like she's suffering ?? She's literally so pretty and has an amazing body," one fan wrote. Another commented, "I can't relate to this. What's unacceptable about her body? Who's out there telling her, her bod is too much? I'm not saying she doesn't have those moments but why would she take them seriously looking like that?!"
Reinhart took the opportunity to try to educate her followers on the nature of mental health and body image issues in a multiple-part Twitter post on July 3rd:
Telling someone they don’t deserve to feel insecure because their body is “fine” or “just like” whomever.. is wrong. That’s part of the problem. That’s part of body shaming.
— Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart) July 3, 2018
I will never understand how someone can be so cowardly as to hide behind their phone and tell a stranger that their feelings are irrelevant and considered “whining,” just because they think you represent some ideal figure or shape.
— Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart) July 3, 2018
I hope this example helps show you a significant problem that’s going on today with young boys and girls. This is why people with mental health issues- depression, eating disorders, body dismirphia— sometimes don’t get the help they need because they’re shamed into being quiet.
— Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart) July 3, 2018
*Dysmorphia
— Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart) July 3, 2018
She added a few more thoughts today, July 4th.
Feeling really disheartened by the fact that so many people are saying “you’re skinny so shut up about embrscing your body.” As if my body dysmorphia is irrelevant because of how I look to some people. I’m either not curvy enough or not skinny enough to feel insecure.
— Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart) July 4, 2018
Mental illness gets worse when people say that you don’t have a right to feel the way you do. That’s where we are dailing. Do not encourage this behavior. It is destructive. More destructive than you’ll ever realize. You may not understand someone’s insecurity- but respect it.
— Lili Reinhart (@lilireinhart) July 4, 2018
"Mental illness gets worse when people say that you don’t have a right to feel the way you do."
We’re so proud of Lili Reinhart for speaking out about this issue. Body dysmorphia is a mental health problem, and — just like with all mental illnesses — it can affect anyone and doesn’t have a face.
Let’s use this as a reminder to choose empathy over judgement whenever possible — especially when it comes to the mental health experiences of others.
