Nelly Furtado's career comes to an end: How other celebrities deal with fat-shaming

Just last year Nelly Furtado (46, “I’m like a Bird”) made a comeback on the big stage – now the Grammy Award winner surprisingly announced the end of her career a few days ago after 25 years.

Furtado officially stated that she didn't want to perform for the time being because she wanted to dedicate herself to other creative and personal pursuits that currently fit better into her life. However, most fans and the American media are certain that the body shaming of the past few months undoubtedly contributed to her decision.

The once petite singer had gained some weight in recent years and was repeatedly criticized for it, especially on social media. At the beginning of the year, she posted a photo of herself in a bikini on Instagram to counter the negative comments. She wrote: "This year I have become aware of the aesthetic pressure of my work in entirely new dimensions, while simultaneously experiencing entirely new levels of self-love and self-confidence."

Nelly Furtado is not the first, and unfortunately probably not the last, celebrity to face body shaming, especially fat shaming (insults due to being overweight), online. Numerous celebrities have experienced this repeatedly – ​​and reacted in very different ways.

Singer Billie Eilish wanted to prevent body shaming from the very beginning of her career by only appearing in revealing clothing. In 2020, the then 18-year-old explained in a four-minute video on YouTube how it feels to have your body constantly judged.

When, a few months later, a photo went viral on "X" showing the Grammy winner in a tight top, captioned "In 10 months, Billie Eilish has got the body of a mid-30s wine-drinking mom," it sparked an outcry online. Many of her fans rallied to her defense, advocating for fair treatment of weight and body image on the internet. The 23-year-old now occasionally shows herself in other outfits, but still prefers looser clothing.

Actress Jessica Simpson also faced repeated fat-shaming on social media, especially after her weight gain during her three pregnancies. After the birth of her second child, the now 45-year-old weighed 120 kilograms (265 pounds), according to her own account. In her 2020 autobiography, "Open Book," she revealed that she had become an alcoholic several years earlier, partly because she "no longer loved herself." She has described herself as "sober" since 2017.

Men can also be subjected to body shaming. Rapper 50 Cent experienced this firsthand when he performed with various artists at the 56th Super Bowl in 2022. At the time, numerous memes and comments appeared on his "X," such as "50 Cent must have gained 50 pounds" or "He must have spent too much time in the candy shop" (referring to his hit "Candyshop"). The American rapper took it in stride, later even claiming he was simply trying to promote his tank top collection. He then added on Instagram: "Fat shaming only works if you're ashamed of your fat."

US actor Jonah Hill (“Superbad,” “Jump Street”) struggled for years with his weight and the resulting comments on his social media platforms. His career has required him to change his weight several times; for example, he gained a significant amount of weight for the 2016 film “War Dogs,” and in 2015 he lost at least 20 kilos for the film “Cut Off.” Many would likely have barely recognized him in a photo published by People magazine on Instagram.

In 2021, the 41-year-old addressed his fans in an emotional post, asking them not to comment on his weight gain or loss in the future. A year later, he even deleted his Instagram account, explaining that he wanted to protect his mental health.

Criticizing others for their weight and appearance is not an American phenomenon. German celebrities are also frequently the targets of such insults – some even in front of cameras. For example, the weight of model Sarah Knappik (who participated in "Germany's Next Topmodel" in 2007) was also a topic of discussion in the "Summer Jungle Camp," which was filmed in Australia in 2024.

The 39-year-old had gained 20 kilos after the birth of her daughter Marly (now four years old), according to her own account. Former footballer Thorsten Legat provocatively asked at the time: "Why does she have such a big belly?", and model Giulia Siegel replied: "You shouldn't let yourself go like that." Numerous fans supported Knappik and criticized the comments of the two participants. Knappik herself immediately turned her new body into a business model: She founded the fashion label "Bossy Curves" and has been selling plus-size fashion ever since.