As is normal for human bodies, Bebe Rexha’s weight has fluctuated over the years. Unfortunately, however, it seems that so many people on TikTok have been discussing the pop star’s weight gain lately that it’s started trending on the platform.
After seeing the unsolicited online criticism, Rexha didn’t deliver the kind of withering clapback we’ve gotten used to getting from celebs like Melanie Lynsky, Lizzo, Selena Gomez, and even Rexha herself—who have all been targets of body-shaming on social media. Instead, Rexha’s very relatable response should be a reminder to everyone of how deeply hurtful this kind of commentary can be to someone, celebrity or not.
“Seeing that search bar is so upsetting,” Rexha tweeted on April 16, with a screenshot of a “bebe rexha weight” search trend on TikTok. She continued, “I’m not mad cause it’s true. I did gain weight. But it just sucks. Thank you to all the people who love me no matter what.”
It’s obviously unfair that society still expects women to maintain a certain, unrealistic body size and shape at all times. But at the same time, it’s also unfair to expect women to have a brave or inspiring or slam-dunk comeback to the body-shaming they get. In another, slightly sassier tweet, Rexha wrote, “I’ve always struggled with my weight. A bitch likes to eat.”