Millie Bobby Brown is sharing an important message.
After facing an onslaught of negative comments from trolls accusing her of “aging so badly,” the Stranger Things star called out the criticism for playing into a larger systemic issue for women.
“I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me,” Millie said in a video shared to her Instagram March 3, “something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny.”
Millie, 21, went on to reflect on her early rise to stardom, recalling that she was only 10 years old when she first got her start in the industry, and she scored her breakout role on Stranger Things shortly after.
“I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me,” she continued. “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.”
And random people on the internet aren’t the only ones who have singled out Millie, who previously clapped back at scrutiny about her appearance at the premiere of her film Electric State in February. In fact, the Enola Holmes star cited multiple news articles that criticized her for “aging so badly” or inquired what work she had “done to her face.”
“This isn’t journalism. This is bullying,” Millie stated. “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.”
Millie also called out critics for tearing women down for clicks, adding, “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.”
Despite all the hate that the Florence by Mills founder has been receiving, she emphasized that she refuses 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,” Millie said. “I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself.”
As for all the people who would rather “say something horrible rather than say something nice,” Millie—who tied the knot with husband Jake Bongiovi in May 2024 following three years of dating—urged them to look inward.
“If you have a problem with that, I have to wonder,” she said, “what is it that actually makes you so uncomfortable?”
Millie added, “Let’s 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.”
Read on for more of her fierce clapbacks.
She’s No Longer Eleven
Having been in the spotlight since her Stanger Things debut at age 12 in 2016, Millie Bobby Brown has faced increased scrutiny for her appearance as she enters her 20s, with some fans opining that she looks and dresses older than her age. Millie, in response, took the opportunity to highlight the systemic issue “bigger than just me” that women face in an Instagram video March 3.
“I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me,” she shared. “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.”
She took particular issue with people she felt were tearing her—and other stars—down just to get attention.
“I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman,” she said. “I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself.”
Millie continued, “Let’s 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.”
What a Strange Thing to Say
Following her appearance at The Electric State premiere Feb. 24, comments flooded Millie’s social media criticizing her look. One user wrote “Literally had to double check she turned 21 the other day and not 40,” while another commented, “Lookin older than ever!!”
Responding to the criticism, British Vogue published an article titled, “No One Cares How Old You Think Millie Bobby Brown Looks.”
Particularly Millie herself, who reshared the article on her Instagram Story Feb. 27, writing, “Thank you.”
Her Age is Not a Mystery
While critics were quick to comment on a Dec. 29 mirror selfie Millie posted, accusing her of making herself look older than she is, the Enola Holmes actress was faster to clap back.
“Women grow!!” she captioned her Jan. 1 Instagram Story. “Not sorry about it :)”
Her Accent Isn’t From the Upside Down
In a March 2024 interview, Tiktoker Max Balegde asked the Florence by Mills founder about comments from fans wondering if she was losing her British accent.
“Let me speak to that real quick,” Millie responded. “I’m an actor. I grew up in the public eye. I grew up in America. I come to set and I’m an actor and I adapt. And so I want to mimic people.”
While she agreed she does sound more American in different settings, like with her fiancé Jake Bongiovi or on a late-night show with a host like Jimmy Fallon, she “can’t help” that, countering her British accent is more prominent when she’s in England.
“I don’t do it intentionally,” she continued. “I’m sorry if it offends you. Okay, but listen, I’m trying my best. I’m trying my best!”
She’s No Damsel
Millie noticed a difference in how people began to treat her after she turned 18 in 2022. On The Guilty Feminist podcast that April, she opened up about having to navigate being a young adult while existing “in the public eye.”
“But it’s gross and it’s true and so I think it’s just a very good representation of what’s going on in the world and how young girls are sexualized and so I have been dealing with that but have also been dealing with that for forever.”
The child star recalled a time she wore a poofy dress to a red carpet when she was 16 and was criticized for trying to appear older with its low cut.
“I thought, ‘Is this really what we’re talking about?’” she added. “We should be talking about the incredible people that were there at the awards show, the talent that was there and the people that we’re representing.”
At the time, she decided to stop posting anything personal to her social media, instead hoping to use her platform to inspire others.
“You’re not gonna see that part of me,” she explained. “You get to see the things I choose to put out in the world. I hope if there’s a 12-year-old that’s told Instagram they’re 18, and they’ve created an account, they’re going on my account and they’re not being exploited to the horrible world that’s out there.”
