Florence Pugh Challenges Body Shamers After Valentino Show
Florence Pugh Defiantly Challenges Body Shamers: "Why Are You So Scared of Breasts?"
Florence Pugh stunned in a hot pink see-through gown at Valentino's Haute Couture show in Rome, Italy, on 10 July during Paris Couture Week. Channelling the Barbiecore trend, there was no denying she looked fabulous in fuchsia, yet some took to commenting on more than her outfit.
The actor, who stars in Olivia Wilde's upcoming "Don't Worry Darling", alongside singer Harry Styles, took to Instagram to silence body shamers who were criticising her visible nipples. Condemning someone's body is never OK (whether they're famous or not), but sadly, the 26-year-old saw it coming.
Pugh spoke out against the trolls in a powerful takedown on social media, and every word is a passionate call for this misogynistic rhetoric to change. She writes: "Listen, I knew when I wore that incredible Valentino dress that there was no way there wouldn't be a commentary on it. Whether it be negative or positive, we all knew what we were doing. I was excited to wear it, not a wink of me was nervous. I wasn't before, during or even now after. What's been interesting to watch and witness is just how easy it is for men to totally destroy a woman's body, publicly, proudly, for everyone to see. You even do it with your job titles and work emails in your bio..? "It isn't the first time and certainly won't be the last time a woman will hear what's wrong with her body by a crowd of strangers, what's worrying is just how vulgar some of you men can be."
Respect people. Respect bodies. Respect all women. Respect humans. Life will get a whole lot easier, I promise.
Luckily, Pugh — who played Amy March in "Little Women" — seems unfazed by the trolling. Alongside three pictures of herself with her nipples showing, Pugh continued: "Thankfully, I've come to terms with the intricacies of my body that make me, me. I'm happy with all of the 'flaws' that I couldn't bear to look at when I was 14. So many of you wanted to aggressively let me know how disappointed you were by my 'tiny tits', or how I should be embarrassed by being so 'flat chested'.I've lived in my body for a long time. I'm fully aware of my breast size and am not scared of it.
"What's more concerning is…. Why are you so scared of breasts? Small? Large? Left? Right? Only one? Maybe none? What. Is. So. Terrifying. It makes me wonder what happened to you to be so content on being so loudly upset by the size of my boobs and body..?"
The English star, who has two sisters and a brother and was raised by a dancer and a restaurateur, went on to credit her family for bringing her up to be so confident in her skin. She wrote: "I'm very grateful that I grew up in a household with very strong, powerful, curvy women. We were raised to find power in the creases of our body. To be loud about being comfortable. It has always been my mission in this industry to say 'f*ck it and f*ck that' whenever anyone expects my body to morph into an opinion of what's hot or sexually attractive."
Pugh is known for experimenting with her style, from hair transformations to cool piercings, and we love her for it. Directly addressing the body shamers, the Marvel actor finished her post with an important statement for everyone. "I wore that dress because I know. If being loudly abusive towards women publicly in 2022 is so easy for you, then the answer is that it is you who doesn't know. Grow up. Respect people. Respect bodies. Respect all women. Respect humans. Life will get a whole lot easier, I promise. And all because of two cute little nipples…." Pugh ended the post with a brilliantly audacious hashtag: #f*ckingfreethef*ckingnipple. And we couldn't agree more. If you're going to shut down trolls respectfully, that's how to do it.
Pugh also addressed the moment during an interview with Harper's Bazaar. The September cover star revealed that she deliberately removed the lining of the dress with designer Pierpaolo Piccioli to make the transparency of the dress more intentional. "I was comfortable with my small breasts. And showing them like that—it aggravated [people] that I was comfortable," she says. In response to the nasty comments, Pugh speaks candidly: "They were so angry that I was confident, and they wanted to let me know that they would never wank over me. Well, don't."
The actor didn't stand alone in her retort and was supported by a number of famous allies."Bridgerton"'s Regé-Jean Page shared Pugh's post and confronted his male followers about this kind of misogyny. He wrote: "Read the caption. Take a look at yourself fellas. Then take a look at your mates and step up when it's time to step up. When the boys are out of line, have a word. The weird thing about misogyny is men actually listen to other men. So do your bit, cos the next few years in particular are gonna be a really good time to listen, and take some responsibility, for everyone's sake."
American actor Jessica Chastain also supported Pugh, sharing the 26-year-old's post on her Instagram story and asking her followers the powerful question: "Why is it so threatening for some men to realise that women can love our bodies without your permission? We don't belong to you."
Fortunately, most fans agreed that Pugh looked incredible as she arrived at the hotly anticipated show alongside Anne Hathaway and Ariana De Bose, who were also wearing the signature Valentino PP pink that dominated the autumn/winter 22-23 show earlier this year. Ahead, see some of the famous faces from the show as well as all angles of Pugh looking perfect in pink.
Florence Pugh at the Valentino Couture Show
Florence Pugh at the Valentino Couture Show
Florence Pugh at the Valentino Couture Show
Florence Pugh at the Valentino Couture Show
Florence Pugh at the Valentino Couture Show
Florence Pugh at the Valentino Couture Show
Anne Hathaway at the Valentino Couture Show
Ariana De Bose at the Valentino Couture Show
Kate Hudson at the Valentino Couture Show
Dan Levy at the Valentino Couture Show
Andrew Garfield at the Valentino Couture Show
Naomi Campbell at the Valentino Couture Show
Elodie at the Valentino Couture Show
Ashley Park at the Valentino Couture Show
