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Bridgerton and Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan has taken to Instagram to make a request of her fans.
Stop talking about her body.
In a recent post on the platform, Coughlan discussed how frequently fans send her direct messages commenting on her body, and how the "weight of thousands of opinions," even "nice" ones, can be hard to bear for the 35-year-old actress.
The post has left many applauding Coughlan for speaking out on what some see as the unintended underbelly of the body positivity movement.
See her post below.
Along with a mirror selfie, Coughlan wrote in her post:
"Hello! So just a thing- if you have an opinion about my body please, please don’t share it with me."
"Most people are being nice and not trying to be offensive but I am just one real life human being and it’s really hard to take the weight of thousands of opinions on how you look being sent directly to you every day."
Coughlan then stipulated while she knows absorbing people's opinions is part of her job as a public figure, she'd rather not hear people's two cents on her body, even if well intended.
"If you have an opinion about me that’s ok, I understand I’m on TV and that people will have things to think and say but I beg you not to send it to me directly ❤️"
"Anyways here’s a pic of me in my hotel in NY about to go to SNL, it’s unrelated to this post but delighted with my hair in it"
As discussions of body acceptance have become increasingly common, many people seem not to realize that toxic body positivity exists too.
Many activists and mental health professionals have pointed out positive body comments can have an equally negative impact, especially for those who have suffered from eating disorders or body dysmorphia. Such commentary "validates or emphasizes that our worth is tied to our appearance," as eating disorders expert Chelsea Kronengold recently toldUSA Today.
On Twitter, people applauded Coughlan for speaking out on the issue and used her post as a call to action for people to simply stop commenting on others' bodies in any way.
For the love of God, people. It's 2022. How is this topic even still a discussion? \n\nIf it's not your body, your opinion doesn't matter and should be kept to yourself. End of story.https://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1487892866970132484\u00a0\u2026— Chris (@Chris) 1643645096
stop talking about women\u2019s bodies it\u2019s 2022https://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1487892866970132484\u00a0\u2026— lena\ud83d\udc2b || 54\ud83d\udc1d\ud83c\udf51 (@lena\ud83d\udc2b || 54\ud83d\udc1d\ud83c\udf51) 1643576442
A timely reminder that in a society which puts an inhumane amount of pressure on women & femmes to subscribe to goalposts that keep moving, no one needs unsolicited comments on their body\u00a0\u2013 good or bad. Too many of either make you feel examined closely, and nobody needs that. https://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1487892866970132484\u00a0\u2026— Gina Martin (@Gina Martin) 1643631576
Also we could extend this courtesy to every human being at all times. It\u2019s super easy to do. \n\n#DontBeADick #NotAllStomachsAreWashboardshttps://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1487892866970132484\u00a0\u2026— Mushka \ud83c\udf4e (@Mushka \ud83c\udf4e) 1643581096
A million times this ..... forever. Thankyou.https://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1487892866970132484\u00a0\u2026— kate kinsella (@kate kinsella) 1643610307
WHO is speaking out of line to our wee babe https://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1487892866970132484\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/V9V9AFtbBG— faye \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f (@faye \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f) 1643576707
Actually, do this for everyonehttps://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1487892866970132484\u00a0\u2026— Dumpling (@Dumpling) 1643644272
WTAF is wrong with people? Why does Nicola have to say this? Leave public figures' bodies out of it. Jesus.https://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1487892866970132484\u00a0\u2026— Ann O'Dea (@Ann O'Dea) 1643633969
Who tf said anything about Nic? STOP PROJECTING YOUR OWN INSECURITIES ON OTHERS AND KEEP YOUR HOT TAKES TO YOURSELF. Imma \n\nWe love you Nicola xx \nSo sorry https://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1487892866970132484\u00a0\u2026— \ud83d\udc1dPromenading Anthony\u2019s Pinnacle\ud83d\udc1d (@\ud83d\udc1dPromenading Anthony\u2019s Pinnacle\ud83d\udc1d) 1643576366
Never comment on someone else\u2019s body. Even if you think youre being nice, just stfu.https://twitter.com/nicolacoughlan/status/1487892866970132484\u00a0\u2026— AGFitness (@AGFitness) 1643583882
Let's all try to leave this habit in the past.