Earlier this week, the internet spontaneously combusted when new photos were released of Renee Zellweger looking different to how we are used to seeing her.
I personally don’t see what the big deal is. Firstly, what Ms Zellweger does to herself, whether it’s plastic surgery or getting a complete tattoo sleeve containing the lyrics of ‘Nothing Else Matters’, is none of our damn business. Nope. That’s is. It’s none of our business.
We don’t own her. We don’t own her face. We don’t own her likeness. Renee Zellweger is for Renee only. That’s it.
What’s really angered me is that most of the comments are along the lines of “If anyone feels that they want plastic surgery that’s fine, I won’t judge them. But …” Bullshit. We all know what comes after the “But” right?
“I’m not a racist, but …”
“I’m not a sexist, but …”
“If anyone feels that they want to have plastic surgery, that’s fine, I won’t judge them. But oh my goodness, I’m going to miss her old face! She looks so different!”
No. It is not acceptable for you to in one breath say you support her decision for plastic surgery if that’s what she really wants, and then in the next breath, say how different she looks, and how sad you are because she doesn’t look how she did 10 years ago.
Just like it is not acceptable for you to say in one breath that a woman has a right to choose whether or not she’ll breast feed her child, and then in the next breath, staunchly push your agenda because you did it a certain way.
We all have people in our lives that tell us something supportive, and then follow it up with a stab in the back. This is what I hear quite regularly.
“You look lovely today! But if you lost a couple of kilos that skirt would fit so much better.”
“You have such a pretty face! But you look so much better with makeup on!”
We need to be supportive of one another. FULL STOP.
“A woman has a right to choose whether or not she breast feeds her child.” FULL STOP.
“A woman has the right to an abortion.” FULL STOP.
“People have the right to plastic surgery if that’s what they want.” FULL STOP.
Please stop trying to hide your judgements behind concern, and certainly stop trying to hide your judgements behind faux support. It would have taken courage on Ms Zellweger’s part to go out that night, as she would have been well aware of how people would react and she responded to their comments beautifully.
We live in a world where everyone should be treated equal, and should not be treated unfairly based on race, religion, sexual preference, or gender. We need to be teaching the younger generations that differences are not a hindrance, but something to be celebrated. This certainly can’t happen when the world flips out because of a choice one person makes.
Did the public backlash over Renee’s new look annoy you? Did you think people’s comments were justified?
