Black Actors Who Have Been Body Shamed

Hollywood imposes immense pressure on performers to maintain unrealistic physical standards that are often unattainable without extreme measures. While conversations regarding body image frequently focus on women, Black male actors encounter significant scrutiny regarding their appearances. Social media has amplified this issue by allowing immediate and often cruel public commentary on weight fluctuations or physical traits. These performers have navigated criticism ranging from height jokes to mockery of weight gain while managing their demanding careers in the spotlight.

Chadwick Boseman

In 2020, the ‘Black Panther’ star posted a video on social media that sparked a wave of cruel comments regarding his sudden weight loss. Fans and trolls alike mocked his appearance with insensitive nicknames like ‘Crack Panther’ without knowing the context of his health. Boseman was silently battling stage IV colon cancer while continuing to work on demanding film projects. The public bullying served as a harsh reminder of how quickly judgment is passed on physical appearance.

Will Smith

The ‘King Richard’ actor famously posted a shirtless photo on Instagram declaring he was in the worst shape of his life following the global pandemic. Social media users had mixed reactions to his realistic body with some praising his honesty and others mocking the weight gain. Smith used the viral moment to launch a public fitness journey that was documented for a web series. This vulnerability highlighted that even major action stars struggle with body image and weight fluctuations.

50 Cent

During the Super Bowl LVI halftime show, the rapper and actor recreated his iconic upside-down entrance from the ‘In Da Club’ music video. Viewers immediately took to social media to make jokes about his weight gain since the original video was released nearly two decades ago. Memes circulated comparing his appearance to his younger self in a derogatory and mocking manner. He responded to the criticism by dismissing the haters and embracing his current physique.

Tyrese Gibson

The ‘Fast & Furious’ actor has faced significant scrutiny regarding his weight fluctuations over recent years. After previously making controversial comments about people with obesity, he found himself on the receiving end of similar criticism when he appeared heavier in public. Online trolls targeted his changing physique during his publicized personal and legal battles. Gibson has had to navigate the pressure of maintaining an action-star figure while dealing with real-life stress.

Kenan Thompson

The ‘Saturday Night Live’ veteran has opened up about the body image issues he developed as a child star. He revealed that filming the movie ‘Heavyweights’ made him feel exploited and solidified his insecurities about being the funny fat kid. Thompson stated that he often felt the need to hide his body or avoid shirtless scenes throughout his career. His longevity in the industry has come with a constant battle to accept his appearance in a superficial business.

Anthony Anderson

For much of his early career in projects like ‘Kangaroo Jack’, this actor was typecast due to his size. After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, he faced a critical turning point where his weight became a matter of life and death rather than just aesthetics. Anderson underwent a significant transformation to improve his health and challenge the industry’s perception of him. He has since become an advocate for health awareness within the Black community.

Busta Rhymes

The hip-hop legend and actor faced intense body shaming after photos surfaced showing significant weight gain. He admitted that the public mockery and a frightening health scare involving sleep apnea motivated him to change his lifestyle. Rhymes documented his fitness journey online to show his transition from overweight to shredded. His transformation was a direct response to the negativity and a personal reclamation of his health.

Terry Crews

Despite being known for his muscular physique in ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’, this actor has spoken out about being objectified. He revealed that he was sexually assaulted by a Hollywood executive who groped him and treated his body as public property. Crews has argued that men are often expected to be silent about such violations because of their physical strength. His story shed light on how muscular Black men are often dehumanized and reduced to their physical attributes.

Kevin Hart

The star of ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ has built a comedy empire partially on self-deprecating humor about his height. However, the constant public ridicule and height jokes from peers and the media constitute a form of body shaming. Hart frequently discusses how he had to develop a thick skin to survive in an industry that favors tall leading men. His success challenges the traditional physical standards required for Hollywood superstardom.

Rick Ross

Before his dramatic weight loss, the rapper and actor was frequently the punchline of jokes regarding his size and bare chest. After suffering from seizures and health scares, he adopted a new lifestyle that included intense training and a better diet. He famously shouted out pears during an interview which became a viral meme mocking his healthy choices. Ross has since ignored the detractors and maintained a healthier weight for his own survival.

Forest Whitaker

The Academy Award winner for ‘The Last King of Scotland’ has a congenital eye condition called Ptosis that affects his left eye. Critics and internet users have frequently mocked this physical trait or suggested he get surgery to fix it. Whitaker has stated that the condition acts as a filter for people who cannot see past his appearance to his talent. He has refused to alter his natural look despite the superficial standards of Hollywood.

Ludacris

The ‘Fast X’ star faced a barrage of online ridicule after releasing the music video for his song ‘Vitamin D’. In the video, he sported obviously CGI-enhanced abdominal muscles that looked cartoonish and unnatural. Social media users mercilessly roasted the bad visual effects and questioned his actual fitness level. He eventually laughed off the situation and admitted it was a deliberate artistic choice to look exaggerated.

Reginald VelJohnson

Known for playing police officers in ‘Die Hard’ and ‘Family Matters’, this actor faced years of scripts that made his weight the punchline. His character Carl Winslow was frequently mocked by other characters for his appetite and girth. VelJohnson has discussed how the fat cop trope limited his casting opportunities and pigeonholed him into specific comedic relief roles. Despite the stereotyping, he remains a beloved figure in television history.

Gabourey Sidibe

Since her breakout role in Precious, Sidibe has faced relentless bullying and scrutiny regarding her weight. She has been a vocal advocate against this treatment, notably clapping back at trolls after a sex scene in Empire was mocked online. She famously stated, “I’m not my body. I’m a whole person.”

Raven-Symoné

The That’s So Raven star has opened up about the deep scars left by body shaming she endured as a child star. She revealed that while working on The Cosby Show at age seven, she was told she was “getting fat” and was restricted from eating certain foods. This early scrutiny led to mental health struggles and multiple cosmetic surgeries before she even turned 18.

Danielle Brooks

Known for her role as Taystee in Orange Is the New Black and her Oscar-nominated performance in The Color Purple, Brooks has been open about the pressure to “snap back” after pregnancy. She has spoken candidly about feeling shame for not immediately losing baby weight and now advocates for the “voice of the curves,” asserting that women should be allowed to make healthy choices without being judged for their size.

Lizzo

While primarily a musician, Lizzo has acted in films like Hustlers and The Mandalorian. She is arguably the most visible target of modern body shaming and frequently addresses the “fat-phobic” and racist comments she receives. She consistently uses her platform to challenge the double standards applied to Black women’s bodies.

Leslie Jones

Following the release of the Ghostbusters reboot, the SNL alum was targeted by a massive, coordinated campaign of racist and body-shaming abuse on Twitter. The harassment was so severe—attacking her looks and comparing her to a gorilla—that she nearly left social media entirely, sparking a major conversation about the protection of Black women online.

Jennifer Hudson

Hudson has faced body shaming on both ends of the spectrum. Early in her career (during American Idol and Dreamgirls), she was criticized for her size. Later, after losing a significant amount of weight, she faced “skinny shaming” and scrutiny from fans and media who felt she had lost her “appeal” or authenticity, proving that for Black women in the spotlight, criticism often exists regardless of size.

Amber Riley

The Glee star has discussed how she was “placed in a box” due to her weight before she even opened her mouth to sing. She has used social media to address trolls directly, famously posting a video after dental surgery where she told haters to “let my big ass live,” emphasizing that she is confident, sexy, and refuses to be defined by their standards.

Chloe Bailey

The Grown-ish actress and singer has faced a different kind of body policing. As she transitioned from a child star to an adult, she received backlash for showing her body and being “too sexy.” She has also had to defend her natural body, including stretch marks, against commenters who felt she was changing too much or trying too hard for male attention.

Mo’Nique

The Oscar-winning actress has long been vocal about how her refusal to conform to Hollywood’s beauty and behavior standards—specifically being a “fat Black woman”—affected her career and pay. She has frequently cited that her appearance made it easier for the industry to “blackball” her when she stood up for herself regarding fair compensation.

Let us know in the comments if you recall other actors who have overcome similar criticisms.