17 Famous Women Who Deserve Apologies for Hollywood and Media Mistreatment

Both the entertainment industry and the press have an unfortunately long history of mistreating women, no matter their age. In recent years, these women have been speaking out.

Here are 17 young female celebs who deserved way better from Hollywood and the media:

Some entries contain mention of sexual assault and eating disorders.

Kirsten Dunst, at just 11 years old, had to kiss 31-year-old Brad Pitt while filming “Interview with a Vampire.” While promoting the film, she told Entertainment Tonight about how “gross” the kiss was.

On Twitter in 2023, former child actor Alexa Nikolas alleged that Jonah Hill forced himself on her at a house party when she was around 15 or 16 and he was 24. Hill’s legal representatives have called her claims “a complete fabrication.”

Previously, Alexa spoke about her experience working on “Zoey 101” at 12 and how she didn’t “feel safe” around series creator Dan Schneider. She’s also the founder of Eat Predators, an organization advocating for survivors of sexual abuse.

Raven-Symoné disclosed that she was barred from eating certain foods on set at the age of 7 and told she was “getting fat.” On “The View” in 2015, she recalled being told this up until she gained weight on “That’s So Raven.”

Brooke Shields starred in “The Blue Lagoon” at 14, where she spent much of the film with only her hair covering her breasts. She called out male directors who objectified her in her documentary “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields” and declined contact with the film’s director after the documentary’s release.

JoJo Siwa, who joined the cast of “Dance Moms” at 9, was the subject of harsh treatment from her instructor Abby Lee Miller. In one episode, Miller had the other girls read off their criticisms of JoJo, which left her holding back tears.

Millie Bobby Brown shared a video montage of negative headlines about her on Instagram on her 16th birthday. She spoke about the pain caused by inappropriate comments and sexualization but expressed her determination to continue doing what she loves.

Vanessa Hudgens faced intense scrutiny when her nude photos were leaked online at 18. She released a public apology and later reflected on the traumatizing experience, lamenting the loss of her privacy as an actor.

At 17, Rihanna was subjected to unfounded rumors that Jay-Z was cheating on Beyoncé with her. Her ex-publicist later admitted to fabricating the story out of desperation.

Bella Thorne recalled being told she was not moving forward in a project because the director felt she was flirting with him. She was only 10 years old at the time. She also nearly got fired from Disney Channel at 14 for wearing a two-piece swimsuit on the beach.

Demi Lovato worked tirelessly during their Disney Channel days, filming movies and TV shows, recording albums, and touring annually. They cited the extreme workload as a factor in turning to substance abuse and struggling with an eating disorder.

Kate Winslet spoke about receiving calls inquiring about her weight when she was younger. She also called out the cruel comments about her appearance in “Titanic.”

When Zendaya wore her hair in locs to the Oscars at 18, “Fashion Police” host Giuliana Rancic made an inappropriate comment about her smelling like patchouli oil and weed. Zendaya responded on Instagram, highlighting the cultural significance of locs.

Miley Cyrus was publicly shamed at 15 over a Vanity Fair photoshoot. Later, she called out the critics and mentioned how working on “Hannah Montana” caused her body dysmorphia and a grueling work schedule.

Soleil Moon Frye struggled with early puberty, which led to inappropriate typecasting and shaming over her body. At 15, she underwent breast reduction surgery and publicly spoke about it to support other kids facing similar issues.

The Sun published a countdown to Emma Watson’s 16th birthday, and her harassment by tabloids worsened as she aged. Photographers captured invasive photos of her on her 18th birthday, which were published legally since she had just turned 18.

Natalie Portman spoke about facing “sexual terrorism” after starring in “Léon: The Professional” at 13, which led her to build an overly cautious reputation to feel safe and ensure her voice was taken seriously.

Britney Spears, in her late teens, faced invasive questions about her body and virginity, leading to ongoing speculation well into her 20s.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here .

The National Eating Disorders Association helpline is 1-800-931-2237; for 24/7 crisis support, text “NEDA” to 741741.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline is 1-888-950-6264 (NAMI) and provides information and referral services; GoodTherapy.org is an association of mental health professionals from more than 25 countries who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy.

Source: BuzzFeed, Entertainment Tonight, Twitter