Jonah Hill posted a rather inspirational message for anyone struggling with body image on his Instagram the other day. After the Daily Mail posted some photos of Jonah surfing in a black wetsuit accompanied by a shirtless photo of Jonah toweling off post-surf, Jonah called the outlet on the mat for their passive aggressive body shaming. Although their byline claimed to call attention to Jonah’s tattoos, Jonah felt the real subject of the shots was his physique. So Jonah decided to stand up for himself by saying he loved himself, regardless of the press trying to tear him down. Jonah reposted the DM shots with the following caption:
I don’t think I ever took my shirt off in a pool until I was in my mid 30s even in front of family and friends. Probably would have happened sooner if my childhood insecurities weren’t exacerbated by years of public mockery about my body by press and interviewers. So the idea that the media tries to play me by stalking me while surfing and printing photos like this and it can’t phase me anymore is dope. I’m 37 and finally love and accept myself. This isn’t a “good for me” post . And it’s definitely not a “feel bad for me post”. It’s for the the kids who don’t take their shirt off at the pool. Have fun. You’re wonderful and awesome and perfect. All my love.
Oh and Daily Mail, not even you can take that smile from my face 😉
This made me give a little fist pump. I love Jonah’s message. It’s true, there is nothing the public loves more than to mock weight. I’m shocked at how prevalent fat jokes are in sitcoms still today. I think it’s easy for the public to see someone with a successful career, hanging out on yachts with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, and think, well he’s living his best life, so he probably doesn’t get bothered by a few weight jokes. This was made tragically clear during a terrible interview about five years ago. A French journalist insulted Jonah during promotion for his War Dogs film and then tried to say it was all just a joke when he took exception. When someone goes though that publicly, yes, I can imagine they would keep their t-shirt on. Especially when media outlets are pulling crap like this.
Jonah’s not stopping at positive messaging, either. He’s partnered with Adidas on a clothing line. He told GQ that he’s always been interested in fashion but, once again, no one expects an “big guy” to care about clothing. I’d be happy if more kids could learn to not listen to the cruel comments of an unforgiving society. Or better yet, I’d be happier if society could not be so rigid with their beauty standards. As Jonah said all shapes are wonderful and awesome. Let’s embrace them.
Photo credit: Instagram
I’m all about this message! I like Jonah Hill and I think he is an exceptional actor.
Men are subject to the same gross beauty standards that women endure, I’m glad he spoke up and even happier he isnt letting others dictate to him how he should feel about his own body.
Spider web tattoos, especially on the elbow, are historically symbols of incarceration & white supremacy. It’s bizarre that a Jewish dude in the entertainment biz would have one. It’s the equivalent of Larry David having teardrop tattoos on his face.
I’m side-eyeing this as well. There is something about him that does not sit right with me, but ya know he says one right thing and suddenly everyone is fawning over him.
I had no idea. I deleted the link to it
Not necessarily anymore. They can have several meanings.
There’s nothing to fault in that statement, good for him. But I will say that I get a very Shallow Hal vibe from him. The type of guy who wants that positivity for himself but doesn’t extend his aesthetic for women in the same way. I don’t know, I’ve never seen this guy with a girl who wasn’t a size 2. But more importantly, I would like to see him acknowledge that he got the kind of career that his female equivalents could only dream of. I would like to see him use some of his clout now that he is producing and directing movies, to boost actresses of similar build. I would like to see him note how every female love interest is a size two including those paired with him. And considering the amount of support he received from female celebrities here can he please start using his voice on their behalf as well. The types of dudes who go on to these women’s pages to bully them idolize him and his early movies. He has power there. Male privilege exists EVEN in oppressed communities.
That is all.
Agreed.
He is allowed to talk about his own experiences, he isnt comparing himself to women he just talking about how he has been treated and he should be allowed. Just because he is a man doesnt mean his life has been free of hardships and unfair criticism. Also, he certainly is a great supporter of his sister who also doesnt prescribe to the typical beauty standard.
Lol. See how low the bar is for these men. All he has to do is root for his sis? Please. Even the worst humans want their sisters to succeed. Let’s see him extend even a fraction of the support women give him to other women in the same boat.
I dont understand how him being attacked for his body, defending himself has turned him to him being the bad guy? Is he not allowed to defend himself without acknowledging someone’s else’s hardship? I dont think we need to jump down his throat when he was the one being attacked. Like sure as a man he gets more opportunities than a woman but what does that have to do with him being unfairly criticized for his body?
@ Julie, I second this. Men are definitely subjected to unfair beauty standards too, but they have more wiggle room in Hollywood because they’re valued for more than their looks.
Yes! Hes famously a dick. Does he show body positivity to women like he expects for himself?
Agreed. After I saw/heard him making fun of a traditional African-American women’s name on some late-night show, going on and on about it, that was the last straw for me. I can’t stand him. He wants understanding but then spews racist hatred at others? No thanks.
I agree! How low is the bar for men, let’s see him date someone with his same body size. Men do not have the same pressures as women!
That’s one of the reasons I loved the show “Drop Dead Diva” with Brooke Elliot. She was a size 18 (maybe?) and still was the lead and “desirable”. Even though the premise (a size 0 model dies, and her soul goes into the body of the overweight lawyer who “died” at the same moment). Anyway…I’m not doing it justice lol. It was a fun show. It’s on Prime now if you want to check it out.
My point being, Ms. Elliot, a really good actress/singer, was pretty much one of a couple of larger women to get a lead in a show. Other than Roseanne…? Oprah?
@Julie, I think that on this subject both genders are judged unfairly. Yes, people with body types that don’t conform to our culture’s standards are shamed and made to feel like they have to defend themselves, but those same people (men AND women) still seek out attractive romantic partners. A common stereotype is a conventionally unattractive or overweight man hooking up with a hot woman, but the reverse is also true nowadays — just look at Amy Schumer, Tess Holliday or even Lena Dunham. These women have been labelled for dating up too.
Love this. So cool that he’s found a healthy and mindful activity in surfing and the f*cks he has left he’s giving to other people who could actually use them.
Is his hair bleached or prematurely gray? Love the total coordination of his green outfit, down to the shoes!
I have those sambas on today. I got every color and they are so comfy.
I think he looks great!
Love this so much! Also, his eyes are sooo blue. Beautiful!
I have never had a weight problem, and he almost made me cry when he said, “this is for all the kids who won’t take their shirt off at the pool.”
It’s really unfair when the media take unflattering photos and make mean posts.
Not a fan, but I think what he’s saying here is spot on, and while men typically don’t get the same level of physical scrutiny in the industry that women do, no doubt he has experienced a lot of unfair treatment over the years.
I’ve realized that the fat phobia and jokes we make about larger people are just not ok. Fat jokes about trump are so popular but a friend of mine who is larger and speaks out about this pointed at that trump isn’t horrible because he is fat, he is horrible for other reasons. Also I’ve been reading more about addiction and trauma and I feel like a good majority of people who are seriously struggling with weight have trauma and their brains that have been rewired because of it and excessive food is seen as essential for survival. And since America has such poor access to mental health for most people we have no way to actually deal with this trauma and people are just trying to survive.
It’s especially awful that Jonah was mocked while he was out getting some fresh air and exercise, something us fat people are always being told to do! He’s always given off something of a douche-bro vibe for me, plus I’m not his demographic. But I do appreciate him speaking up about this.
I am a larger woman. I am depressed about it, but I’m also depressed in general about my life, and eating something enjoyable is sometimes the one thing I get to do for myself all day long. I don’t make jokes about other people’s weight, and those jokes make me feel bad, even when they aren’t about me. My mom will put down my ex’s new girlfriend as far and ugly, and I’m Like, she’s smaller than I am, so is that supposed to make me feel good? I really appreciate his comments here. I appreciate that, at least in this snippet, he didn’t talk about fixing himself or his weight in order to feel good, he just said he felt good and accepted himself (not, “I changed my life and you can too! I’m so much happier now.”). I don’t know much else about him so he might be a total hose, but in this, I really understand what he’s getting at.
I feel you! I’m really trying to embrace the idea that my body exists to help me experience this wonderful world that we live in and in no way exists to please or satisfy anyone else. It’s tough sometimes, but when I re-frame my thinking around “I exercise my body because it likes to move” instead of “I must exercise my body to punish it for not meeting standard”, I sure enjoy exercising more and look for more opportunities to move. It’s hard not to let the prejudices and issues of others push in (and that whole diet mindset is insidious and nearly impossible to root out), but we just need to remember that our value and worth is not influenced by the package we come in. You’ve got this!
I just read your linked post about the French promo interview. What the actual heck? Good for him for pushing back against fat shaming nonsense.
The blonde hair suits him! Good on him for accepting his body for what it is. I’ve been working on that myself for the past few months. Let’s all be kinder to ourselves and others.