Social media takes a toll on the average person. Now imagine being a world-renown rap star. As of press time, Australian rapper Iggy Azalea is facing what many young women today struggle with: body bullying. Body bullying is defined as harsh and negative criticism for one’s body. Azalea and her boyfriend recently traveled to Hawaii, and while there, the paparazzi took an unflattering shot of the young woman in a red bikini. The photo shows cellulite on Azalea’s posterior, and for that, she has received a slew of body bullying comments on her social media accounts.
Shocked by the negativity, Azalea announced that she will be taking time away from social media due to it being “too negative and draining.” Her management team will control Azalea’s social media instead. Some may say that Azalea asked for the limelight and should deal with harsh criticism now that she’s fully immersed in it. However, the same situation and issue affected 44-year-old actress Minnie Driver. In August 2014, she was on vacation with her family and was photographed in an unflattering way. Once the photos were released, the hurtful remarks slammed her Twitter account. In the previous months, Driver actually said she loved Twitter to receive all her information, but after the defamatory remarks, she announced, “I’m out of this Twittersphere for a while. It’s too mean sometimes, about your body, about your soul. Not worth it.”
If you or your child is a victim of body bullying, it’s best to check online resources and expert sites. It is also a good idea to talk with an expert in person. She can provide you with solid advice on how to deal with the situation. For more information, visit http://www.stompoutbullying.org/.