Matt Lucas has publicly apologized to Millie Bobby Brown after she accused him of mocking her appearance. The controversy arose when the Little Britain comedian posted images of Millie wearing an up do and a pink tracksuit, comparing her to his character Vicky Pollard.
Lucas’s post quickly gained attention, leading to media coverage that prompted Millie to respond. In a video statement, she addressed the scrutiny young women face in the public eye. “I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me, something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny,” she said.
The Stranger Things star, who started her career at ten years old, expressed frustration over the expectations placed on her appearance. “For some reason, people can’t seem to grow 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,” she explained.
Specifically addressing an article in the Daily Mail that amplified Lucas’s remarks, she called out the media for focusing on a perceived insult rather than questioning why an adult would mock a young woman’s looks. She firmly stated, “This isn’t journalism. This is bullying.”
In response, Matt Lucas issued an apology and provided context for his post. “Dear Millie, I just saw your post and wanted to respond and provide some context. Nearly 25 years ago, I co-wrote and appeared in a sketch show called Little Britain. There was a character in it called Vicky Pollard, who had blonde hair and always wore a pink top. In the photo, you had blonde hair and wore a pink top, so I pointed out the similarity by posting one of her catchphrases.”
Matt Lucas emphasized that he never intended to hurt Millie. “I would not have posted it if I had thought it would have upset you, but I realize it has, and for that, I apologize.” He also noted his disappointment at how his remarks were framed in the media, saying he was “mortified” when he saw reports that he had “slammed” Millie.
The event brings up the bigger problem of how the people and the media treat young female celebrities. Millie Bobby Brown has talked a lot about how being in the public eye as a child has put her under a lot of stress and how rude comments have made her feel. “The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, it’s disturbing. The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse,” she said.
She pointed out the hypocrisy in how society claims to support young women but often engages in tearing them down. “We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when the time comes, it seems easier to tear them down for clicks.”
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Millie also called for a change in how young women are treated in the public eye, urging people to be more mindful of their words. Saying nice things about someone has become much harder in our society than saying nice things about them. The first thing that comes to mind is to say something bad, not something nice.
This new event with Matt Lucas is another example of the problems young female celebrities face in a time when criticism and praise are spread so easily on social media. Millie’s answer is a strong warning that respect should come before making fun of or judging someone.