You might know that actor Robert Pattinson has a massive legion of fans, and the thing is, they don’t just love his acting—they also love his body. A lot. So much so that his body positivity anthem “Don’t Judge Me” was propelled to number one on the Billboard Top 100 in 2019 after only featuring in promotional material for the Twilight franchise.
Pattinson’s fans have taken to social media to voice their frustration with the inauthentic images spread by the media when promoting the singer’s new album. One user posted a Photoshopped montage of herself and other women wearing the same dress with the caption, “This is exactly what I’m talking about. So disappointed.” Another pleaded with the media to stop Photoshop shaming by tweeting, “Don’t judge me because of my photo shoot. Please.”
Here, we’ll explore how the media has mishandled photos of Pattinson and other celebrities, and how they can do better.
The Reality Of Photoshopping
Body positivity is a cause close to Pattinson’s heart. The singer has spoken out about his insecurities and how others’ perceptions have impacted him. He’s said that he’s constantly worried about what people think of him and that he tries to hide his tattoos because he doesn’t want anyone to judge him.
While the media commonly gets the blame for promoting unattainable body images, the truth is that not all fashion photographers are created equal. Even well-known photographers have to deal with high fashion houses’ demanding schedules, and trying to keep up with all of the demands can be exhausting.
Even when a photographer does his best to give an accurate representation of a celebrity’s beauty, the fact is that they’re still a product of their environment. As the saying goes, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
Why Are Celebs’ Photos Shaming Us?
Body positivity is a cause close to Pattinson’s heart, and he’s spoken out about his insecurities and how others’ perceptions have impacted him. He’s said that he’s always worried about what people think of him and that he tries to hide his tattoos because he doesn’t want anyone to judge him.
While the media commonly gets the blame for promoting unattainable body images, the fact is that not all fashion photographers are created equal. Even well-known photographers have to deal with high fashion houses’ demanding schedules, and trying to keep up with all of the demands can be exhausting.
Even when a photographer does their best to give an accurate representation of a celebrity’s beauty, the fact is that they’re still a product of their environment. As the saying goes, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
The Effects Of Social Media On Body Image
Pattinson’s fans have taken to social media to speak out about the singer’s muscularity and what they perceive as an unhealthy obsession with thinness. One Instagram user called out the singer for “emphatically not fitting” the “ideal” body type for Hollywood, which she defines as “boyish and lithe.” Another user wrote, “I don’t think anyone should be accepted just because of their looks, but most of us have been raised to believe that prettiness = worth.”
Pattinson’s muscularity has become such a point of discussion that the hashtag #BoyishHollywood has trended on social media since 2018, and his fans are quick to point out that the actor doesn’t fit the preconceived “ideal” Hollywood physique. One Instagram page, @boyishhollywood, which is dedicated to highlighting “the best of the best” in men’s physique photos, lists the actor among their top ten “hottest” subjects.
It’s important to remember that not everything that arises from social media is an accurate reflection of reality. Just like any other form of media, social media can distort reality and present an ideal that isn’t necessarily attainable by everyone.
How Can We Stop Photoshopping?
Pattinson’s fans have taken to social media to speak out about the singer’s muscularity and what they perceive as an unhealthy obsession with thinness. One Instagram user called out the singer for “emphatically not fitting” the “ideal” body type for Hollywood, which she defines as “boyish and lithe.” Another user wrote, “I don’t think anyone should be accepted just because of their looks, but most of us have been raised to believe that prettiness = worth.”
Pattinson’s muscularity has become such a point of discussion that the hashtag #BoyishHollywood has trended on social media since 2018, and his fans are quick to point out that the actor doesn’t fit the preconceived “ideal” Hollywood physique. One Instagram page, @boyishhollywood, which is dedicated to highlighting “the best of the best” in men’s physique photos, lists the actor among their top ten “hottest” subjects.
It’s important to remember that not everything that arises from social media is an accurate reflection of reality. Just like any other form of media, social media can distort reality and present an ideal that isn’t necessarily attainable by everyone.
Why Are We Seeing More Skin?
Another interesting trend that has emerged from the fandom is the emphasis on skin. Fans seem to have taken issue with the fact that celebrities hide their bodies or go for extreme makeovers to “improve” their appearance. One user wrote, “I love how everyone is talking about how he isn’t showing enough skin or how she is wearing too much clothing. What world do you live in?”
Pattinson’s fans have taken to social media to speak out about the singer’s muscularity and what they perceive as an unhealthy obsession with thinness. One Instagram user called out the singer for “emphatically not fitting” the “ideal” body type for Hollywood, which she defines as “boyish and lithe.” Another user wrote, “I don’t think anyone should be accepted just because of their looks, but most of us have been raised to believe that prettiness = worth.”
Pattinson’s fans have taken to social media to speak out about the singer’s muscularity and what they perceive as an unhealthy obsession with thinness. One Instagram user called out the singer for “emphatically not fitting” the “ideal” body type for Hollywood, which she defines as “boyish and lithe.” Another user wrote, “I don’t think anyone should be accepted just because of their looks, but most of us have been raised to believe that prettiness = worth.”
Pattinson’s fans have taken to social media to speak out about the singer’s muscularity and what they perceive as an unhealthy obsession with thinness. One Instagram user called out the singer for “emphatically not fitting” the “ideal” body type for Hollywood, which she defines as “boyish and lithe.” Another user wrote, “I don’t think anyone should be accepted just because of their looks, but most of us have been raised to believe that prettiness = worth.”
Pattinson’s fans have taken to social media to speak out about the singer’s muscularity and what they perceive as an unhealthy obsession with thinness. One Instagram user called out the singer for “emphatically not fitting” the “ideal” body type for Hollywood, which she defines as “boyish and lithe.” Another user wrote, “I don’t think anyone should be accepted just because of their looks, but most of us have been raised to believe that prettiness = worth.”
The Changing Media Landscape
The emergence of TikTok, which allows users to create and share short, looping videos, has impacted the media landscape in a significant way. Videos are now viewed as “content” alongside traditional media such as magazines and newspapers, and creators are able to monetize their content through a combination of ads and cryptocurrency (such as TikTok’s own cryptocurrency, TIKR) while also gaining hundreds of millions of unique monthly users.