Millie Bobby Brown, the 20-year-old actress, is experiencing a period of significant professional success and personal happiness. She recently married Jake Bongiovi and continues to thrive in her acting career, with projects including the final season of *Stranger Things* and the Netflix film *Damsel*. Despite this, she, like many successful young women, faces relentless online harassment from a swarm of internet trolls.
This week, a simple selfie posted to her Instagram account sparked a wave of negative comments. With over 63 million followers, Brown is accustomed to feedback, but the response to this particular photo was overwhelmingly critical. Commenters focused on her appearance, making ageist remarks such as “MILLIE WHAT HAPPENED,” “Millie’s google history : ‘How to look 65 when you are 16’,” and “She skipped 20s & went straight to 40’s.” Many accused her of looking “way older” than her actual age.
This unwarranted criticism, directed at a casual selfie intended to showcase a Louis Vuitton handbag, highlights the pervasive problem of online bullying. However, Brown’s response demonstrates remarkable resilience. On her Instagram Story, she retorted with a confident, “Women grow!! Not sorry about it :)”, effectively dismissing the hateful comments.
Years in the public eye have clearly fostered a thick skin. Furthermore, her marriage to Jake Bongiovi, son of music icon Jon Bon Jovi, provides a supportive family network well-versed in navigating public scrutiny and online negativity. In fact, the experience of facing harsh criticism from anonymous sources is increasingly common in the age of social media. While this pervasive negativity raises questions about the overall impact of social media platforms, Millie Bobby Brown’s unfazed response serves as a testament to her strength and self-assuredness.