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Fans clap back after Billie Eilish is body-shamed for photo showing 'what's underneath baggy clothes'

Photo credit: Mike Marsland - Getty Images
Photo credit: Mike Marsland - Getty Images

From Cosmopolitan

Billie Eilish has never been shy about vocalising her distaste for body shaming. But after being photographed looking "unrecognisable" (apparently) when she went outside recently in a non-baggy outfit - a style for which she is a famed - the 18-year-old herself has become the subject of unnecessary body shaming.

Earlier this week, the Bad Guy singer was pictured out and about in LA, wearing a beige strappy vest top, beige jogger shorts, and some sliders - also in a matching neutral tone. It's no surprise people took notice, because the teenager is normally seen wearing oversized, layered clothes, and people clearly couldn't cope with - shock! - seeing the actual shape of her body. Naturally, some felt placed to pass comment on it.

Comments littered the internet degrading Billie's shape and size, comparing her body to that of a "mid-30s wine mom". Wow. But thankfully, the singer's fans were there to call out the shaming for what it is: complete and utter BS.

On Twitter, one young woman shared her objection to "the way that porn and social media has taught men that bodies like Billie Eilish’s are 'fat' and not perfectly normal."

Upon seeing the tactless insults, Youtuber Jessie Paege also shared her thoughts: "Billie Eilish is beautiful! PLEASE, do not body shame her, or anyone for that matter," she wrote. "Body shaming is not 'news' or 'gossip' it’s HARMFUL and UNACCEPTABLE." Could not agree more.

Photo credit: Neil Mockford - Getty Images
Photo credit: Neil Mockford - Getty Images

One fan decided to tackle the comments with the contempt they deserve. "When I see people tweet about Billie Eilish's body it screams 'I've never been with a woman'," she wrote.

It's disappointing to see Billie become the target of thoughtless body shaming, but what's empowering is that she has clearly inspired her followers to speak out against it. Earlier this year, the No Time To Die singer made a powerful stance against body shamers during the opening night of her Where Do We Go world tour in Miami, commenting on the double standards women face.

During the concert, Billie shared a video interlude of her taking off her top to make a statement about self-empowerment and the judgement women face. In it, she said:

"If what I wear is comfortable, I am not a woman. If I shed the layers, I am a slut. Some people hate what I wear, some people praise it. Some people use it to shame others, some people use it to shame me. While I feel your stares, your disapproval or your sighs of relief, if I lived by them, I’d never be able to move.

"The body I was born with, is it not what you wanted? If what I wear is comfortable, I am not a woman. If I shed the layers, I am a slut. Though you’ve never seen my body, you still judge it and judge me for it. Why?"

How miserable to see that, despite this powerful message, trolls have still come for her over the way she looks. Let's hope Billie stands strong and is able to remember the encouraging words of her fans, and not those of her shamers.

Follow Cat on Instagram.

Cosmopolitan UK's November issue is out now and you can SUBSCRIBE HERE.

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