Florence Pugh has shared what she perceives as the “scariest” side of body-shaming, in response to an interview question about the infamously backlash to a photo she shared on Instagram last summer. As you may well remember, the Oppenheimer actor wore a sheer hot pink tulle Valentino gown (a Barbiecore dream!) to the fashion house's haute couture show in Rome on Friday, 8 July. It was one of her best looks to date, and there have been a lot of candidates. The 26-year-old's fabulous gown showed the outline of her nipples through the material.
However, when she uploaded the post to her Instagram account while lightheartedly addressing the photo-sharing app's censorship of uncovered nipples, she was faced with backlash: hundreds of unwelcome comments by men.
Now, in a cover interview for ELLE UK's October issue, more than a year on from the initial incident, Florence has reflected on how she's interpreted the response – and what she found most insidious about it.
“I think the scariest thing for me are the instances where people have been upset that I’ve shown ‘too much’ of myself,” she told fellow actor Jodie Turner-Smith in the transcription of their “in conversation” style Zoom Q&A.
Referring to the furore around the Valentino dress, she added: “my nipples were on display through a piece of fabric, and it really wound people up. It’s the freedom that people are scared of; the fact I’m comfortable and happy. Keeping women down by commenting on their bodies has worked for a very long time.” More optimistically, however, Florence added that she thinks things are changed: “I think we’re in this swing now where lots of people are saying, ‘I don’t give a shit.’
“Unfortunately, we’ve become so terrified of the human body that we can’t even look at my two little cute nipples behind fabric in a way that isn’t sexual. We need to keep reminding everybody that there is more than one reason for women’s bodies [to exist].”
Pugh plays Jean Tatlock, a real-life psychiatrist and love interest to Cillian Murphy’s J. Robert Oppenheimer.
It's worth mentioning that Florence also responded to the backlash in real-time – i.e. in summer 2022, when it first happened. In a follow-up post, the British star was quickly forced to address disgusting comments she received from "vulgar men" who thought it was appropriate to discuss her body and how it looked in the dress. Sigh, what authority do men think they have on our bodies to make such remarks?!
So, in her first post, talking about Instagram's unjust nipple censorship Florence wrote in the caption: "Technically they're covered. Feeling magical in @maisonvalentino."
Cue hundreds of unwelcome comments by men. Then cue Florence's articulate and self-reassured response, in which she called out these comments.
"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," she began.
Florence added: “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..?”
The Midsommar star admitted that 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. 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."
She continued: "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..?"
Florence explained that she was "grateful" to have grown 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 'fuck it and fuck that' whenever anyone expects my body to morph into an opinion of what's hot or sexually attractive.
"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…. #f***ingfreethefuckingnipple," she concluded.
The post has gathered more than 1.4million likes and counting, with a host of support from celebrities and fans alike.
Billie Piper commented: "Never looked better. You are simply stunning. Beautiful beautiful women," while Jameela Jamil added: "You're a magical f***ing queen and we do not deserve you."
Joey King commented: "You are truly so amazing. You put into words what so many feel but can't articulate."
Florence's post shows just how much work there is left to do for society and, ahem, men to stop body-shaming women. While we wish there were no circumstances in the first place for the actor to speak out about this topic, we're so glad and supportive that she has. Florence has a huge fan base, with some of them being very young girls. If they see their idol not taking any slander against her body, hopefully, they will be inspired not to let the opinion of others affect their relationship with their bodies.
I wasn't just missing out on a Big Love; I was missing out on a Big Life.
