Matt Lucas has issued an apology to Millie Bobby Brown after comparing her to one of his Little Britain characters.
The Stranger Things star, 21, recently responded to online criticism of her appearance, condemning posts and articles commenting on her face, hair, and body as “bullying”.
Lucas, 50, re-shared images of Brown wearing a pink tracksuit and silver hoop earrings with her blonde hair in a messy bun on social media alongside Vicky Pollard’s signature catchphrase: “No but yeah but.”
Following Brown’s statement on the backlash against her new look, Lucas wrote on Instagram on Tuesday (4 March): “Dear Millie, I just saw your post and wanted to respond, and provide some context.”
He continued: “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, and in the photo you had blonde hair and wore a pink top so I pointed out the similarity by posting one of her catchphrases.”
Lucas added that he thought Brown “looked terrific” and was “mortified” when news outlets reported that he had “slammed” her.
“First, because that’s not my style and secondly because I think you’re brilliant,” he said.
“I would not have posted it if I had thought it would have upset you but I realise it has and for that I apologise,” the comedian concluded.
Hours earlier, Brown shared a video to her Instagram calling out journalists who had written stories that included criticism of her appearance.
“I started in this industry when I was 10 years old,” she said. “I grew up in front of the world, and 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.”
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Brown then went on to read out the headlines of some of the sexist coverage of her “aging so badly”, as well as the names of the authors she says are “so desperate to tear young women down”.
“One article reads, Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown aging so badly? Written by Lydia Hawken. What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face? Written by John Eli. Millie Bobby Brown mistaken for someone’s mom as she guides younger sister Ava through LA. Written by Cassie Carpenter.
“Another article reads, Little Britain’s Matt Lucas takes savage swipe at Millie Bobby Brown’s new mommy makeover look. Written by Bethann Edwards. Amplifying an insult rather than questioning why a grown man is mocking a young woman’s appearance,” she said.
“This isn’t journalism. This is bullying,” the Enola Holmes star continued.
“The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices is disturbing. And the fact that some of these articles are written by women makes it even worse.
“We always talk about supporting and uplifting young but when it comes down to it, it seems a lot easier to just tear them down for clicks.
“Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not their own. I refuse to apologise for growing up. I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman. I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself.”
