Celebrities are often judged by outsiders, but it’s worse when the industry itself criticizes their looks. Many stars have been publicly criticized for their weight by fellow celebrities, and while some respond defensively, others use the opportunity to highlight a larger issue: that Hollywood continues to treat bodies as topics for public debate.
Katie Hopkins vs. Lily Allen
Katie Hopkins, a brand known for her blunt commentary, found herself in conflict with Lily Allen during an interview segment where she expressed her opinions on celebrities. Hopkins dismissed Allen and mocked her appearance, specifically insulting her weight and saying motherhood had changed her in an ugly way. Allen responded later on social media and explained that her body had been through real trauma, including the experience of losing a child late in pregnancy. She also described how fear and stress shaped the pregnancies that followed and why weight gain and comfort eating were part of coping and not something people should be making fun of.
Cheryl Tiegs vs. Ashley Graham
When Ashley Graham landed a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover in 2016, it was a big deal for the whole industry. Former supermodel Cheryl Tiegs was asked about it in an interview and responded by saying she didn’t like the conversation around “full-figured” models. Tiegs suggested that Graham’s body wasn’t a healthy example to follow, even though she complimented her face. Graham responded by framing the comment as proof that the industry still needed to evolve and that hearing that perspective out loud was part of why change mattered. After hearing that, Tiegs later publicly apologized.
Piers Morgan vs. Tess Holliday
When model Tess Holliday appeared on the cover of Cosmopolitan UK in 2018, it sparked a familiar wave of loud opinions. Piers Morgan posted about it on social media and argued that celebrating Holliday was irresponsible, framing it as part of an obesity crisis and claiming the cover “glamorized” something unhealthy. Holliday responded to the backlash online at the time, pushing back at critics who made assumptions about her health. But that little outburst didn’t stop Morgan. He later doubled down on his criticism, throwing more speculations about her health and appearance, turning one magazine cover into an ongoing takedown.
Jay Mohr vs. Alyssa Milano
Comedian Jay Mohr drew criticism after commenting on Alyssa Milano’s post-pregnancy body during a radio interview, describing her in a way that implied she didn’t care about her weight after having a baby. Milano called him out publicly on Twitter, saying it was unnecessary to fat-shame her. Mohr later apologized, and Milano accepted, joking about shapewear and cookies just to make it clear she wasn’t going to let such a meaningless comment define her.
Khloé Kardashian vs. the Kardashians
Since the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” show went live, reality TV has largely shaped Khloé’s self-image. Many clips from it show her own family members taking jabs at her weight and confidence. Khloé has described how painful it was, including while speaking with contestants on Revenge Body, where she acknowledged that body-shaming from family hits differently because it’s coming from the people closest to you.
Jillian Michaels and Kanye West vs. Lizzo
Lizzo has been a frequent target of the so-called “concern-trolling” comments disguised as health commentary. Jillian Michaels argued in an interview that people shouldn’t “celebrate” Lizzo’s body and suggested weight-related health risks as justification. In 2022, Kanye West also couldn’t help himself and called the cultural embrace of being overweight unhealthy. Fans speculated that Lizzo actually addressed all that media noise during a concert by saying that she was focused on living her life confidently and unapologetically, which is the only right way to do it.
Karl Lagerfeld vs. Adele
The late Karl Lagerfeld was known for sharp opinions, and in a 2012 interview, he criticized Adele’s body while praising her face and voice. A sort of a compliment sandwich, if you will. Adele later spoke out about body-shaming attitudes in general by saying she never aimed to look like runway models and felt proud to represent women who don’t fit that mold. Lagerfeld eventually apologized and emphasized that he understood how cruel the press can be about appearance, adding that he admired Adele’s talent and looked forward to her next album.
Katie Hopkins vs. Kelly Clarkson
Hopkins didn’t stop at criticizing Lily Allen and also targeted Kelly Clarkson on Twitter, making jokes about Clarkson’s weight and claiming that it wasn’t related to pregnancy. Later, in interviews, she intensified her attacks with more insulting comments and jabs, but Clarkson’s response effectively nullified all those hurtful remarks. In at least one interview, she suggested she was unaware of the comments and builds her self-worth internally, not based on strangers’ opinions. This is how you fight Internet bullies, people.
