Matt Lucas has issued a public apology to Millie Bobby Brown after the Stranger Things actress called him out by name in a powerful Instagram video addressing the “bullying” she faces as a young woman in the public eye. The British comedian, known for his work on Little Britain, found himself in hot water after his comments about Brown’s appearance were amplified in headlines that described them as a “savage swipe”.
The controversy began when Lucas, 50, shared a photo of Brown on social media, captioning it with “no but yeah but” – a catchphrase from his Little Britain character Vicky Pollard. This comment was interpreted by some media outlets as mocking Brown’s appearance, leading to widespread criticism.
In response, Brown, 21, took to Instagram to share a powerful video calling out the relentless scrutiny she faces. She specifically mentioned the headline about Lucas, questioning “why a grown man is mocking a young woman’s appearance“.
“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,” Brown began in her video.
“I started in this industry when I was 10-years-old. I grew up in front of the world, and, for some reason, people can’t seem to grow up 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 1. And because I don’t, I’m now a target”.
Brown went on to criticise various headlines and articles about her appearance, stating: “Let’s talk about the articles, the headlines, the people who are so desperate to tear young women down.”
She continued, “‘Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown ageing so badly?’ by Lydia Hawken. ‘What has Millie Bobby Brown done to her face?’ by John Ely. ‘Millie Bobby Brown mistaken for someone’s mom as she guides younger sister Ava through LA’ by Cassie Carpenter. ‘Little Britain’s Matt Lucas takes savage swipe at Millie Bobby Brown’s new “mommy makeover” look’—written by Bethan Edwards.”
She added, “This isn’t journalism. This is bullying. The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, is disturbing. The fact that some of these articles are written by women makes it even worse.”
Following Brown’s video, Lucas quickly issued a public apology on Instagram. He wrote, “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, 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 continued, “I thought you looked terrific and I was mortified when the press wrote that I ‘slammed’ you, firstly because that’s not my style, and secondly because I think you’re brilliant. 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.”
Brown’s powerful statement resonated with many, as she declared, “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.”
As the dust settles on this controversy, it’s clear that Brown is not afraid to standup for herself. She has not publicly responded to Lucas’ apology at the time of writing.
Lead image: Instagram / Getty
