Hollywood can be a cruel and grueling industry that uses the glaring spotlight of fame, wealth, and celebrity to blind people to the fact that its so-called stars are human, too. Actors like Emma Watson and Millie Bobby Brown have been repeatedly forced under the microscopic scrutiny of tabloids and paparazzi, mostly for clickbait headlines, and they have both called the media out on it.
![Millie Bobby Brown in Enola Holmes [Credit Netflix]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/04144304/Millie-Bobby-Brown-in-Enola-Holmes-Credit-Netflix.jpg "Millie Bobby Brown Isn’t the Only One, Even Emma Watson Claimed Harsh Social Media Comments Affected Her “Sanity” 4")
While social media makes it much more accessible for the public to keep an eye on their favorite stars all over the world, the relentless harassment of the media makes it difficult for stars to keep their cool. From dissecting and over-analyzing their physicality, looks, mannerisms in public, and speech patterns, the media has made it their business to intrude upon every personal aspect of actors’ lives even beyond what is deemed appropriate.
And Millie Bobby Brown is done keeping quiet about it, like her predecessor, Emma Watson.
Emma Watson had to shield herself from social media
![Emma Watson in the Harry Potter franchise [Credit: Warner Bros.]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/04144249/Emma-Watson-in-the-Harry-Potter-franchise-Credit-Warner-Bros-1024x683.jpg "Millie Bobby Brown Isn’t the Only One, Even Emma Watson Claimed Harsh Social Media Comments Affected Her “Sanity” 5")
As an integral member of the famous Harry Potter trio, Emma Watson has always been in the public eye since the premiere of the 2001 film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. However, while her role as Hermione Granger was critically acclaimed across all platforms, Watson herself was not exposed to a similarly beloved reception from the media during her time.
Growing up in the public eye, the actress revealed uncomfortable facts about tabloids and paparazzi waiting outside her home the night she turned 18 – signifying she was legally considered an adult now and photographers could not be sued for harassing a minor.
Watson also called the media out on their attempts at clicking pictures up her skirt, saying: “Because I turned 18, it was legal.” At the New York premiere of her 2017 film, The Circle, the actress addressed a similar issue, explaining why she chose to stay away from social media (via E! News):
For my sanity, I cannot, I just cannot even go there (reading comments). I have to create some distance because I’m human. I think there’s this way where technology can dehumanise. I think it’s really important to be mindful. Retaining your sanity in this industry is everything.
Other female stars in the music, fashion, and film industry have gone through a similarly difficult time, most notably pop star Britney Spears, child actress Lindsay Lohan, and Charlotte Church. But even as Hollywood learns to evolve with time, tabloids stay the same, making the Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown its latest target.
Millie Bobby Brown calls out bullies on Instagram
![Millie Bobby Brown in Stranger Things [Credit: Netflix]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/04144250/Millie-Bobby-Brown-in-Stranger-Things-Credit-Netflix-1024x546.jpg "Millie Bobby Brown Isn’t the Only One, Even Emma Watson Claimed Harsh Social Media Comments Affected Her “Sanity” 6")
In a bold statement, the Stranger Things star, Millie Bobby Brown, who has grown up in the public eye, posted a 3-minute video on her Instagram page to confront media harassment and journalistic bullying. Not mincing her words, Brown questioned the media’s problematic attitude toward scrutinizing her looks and her fashion choices over the years.
Calling out the media’s “disturbing coverage” over her changing looks, especially after the premiere of her new Russo Brother movie, The Electric State, Brown said:
I grew up in front of the world and for some reason people can’t seem to grow up with me. Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things season one. And because I don’t, I’m now a target. This isn’t journalism. This is bullying. The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, is disturbing. That some of these articles are written by women makes it even worse.
Moreover, she has boldly stated that she refused to apologize for not meeting the “unrealistic expectations” of those who cannot see a girl mature into a woman and questioned modern society’s attitude toward tearing down women for “simply existing.”
The Electric State premieres on Netflix on 14 March 2025.
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