When Millie Bobby Brown became a ‘Stranger Things’ sensation, she was barely a pre-teen! Over the years, the actress has expereimented with looks, including swapping out her dark brown hair for blonde tresses. This past week, the 21-year-old opted for that lighter look while on her press run for an upcoming Netflix film. Well, her ’90s blowout look didn’t hit for some, leading to mixed reactions on social media and from the press. Now, Millie Bobby Brown is calling out the harsh feedback and the lack of compassion for aging child stars!

Recap Of What Actress Said About Her Appearance

Millie addressed the flurry of negative energy against her in an Instagram video on Monday (March 3). Everything she said in her video, she typed in her caption. Brown explained that the issue is bigger that her, and “affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny.” In her eyes, speaking out about this was “necessary.”

“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 1. And because I don’t, I’m now a target,” Millie Bobby Brown said.

The ‘Stranger Things’ superstar didn’t end her commentary there! She also went IN on the “articles, the headlines, the people who are so desperate to tear young women down.” Millie read headlines out loud, and called out the publications and the authors, too.

“This isn’t journalism. This is bullying. The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, it’s disturbing. The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse. We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when the time comes, it seems easier to tear them down for clicks,” Millie added.

Millie Bobby Brown Encourages Media To Do Better

Brown implied that “disillusioned people” are trying to stunt a girl who is becoming a woman “on her terms.”

“I refuse to apologize 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. We have become a society where it’s so much easier to criticize than it is to pay a compliment.”

As mentioned, she implored folks to get it together, meaning to do better. “Not just for me, but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without fear of being torn apart for simply existing,” she said.

When A Child Star Grows Up…

Millie has seemingly been trying to glow up and away from her childhood roles. She started acting at 10 and, within a year or two, was portraying Eleven of Stranger Things. Ultimately, the show snatched souls and got renewed four times. Millie Bobby Brown starred in the first four, and the fifth is expected this year. So, one can safely say she grew with the show! Still, the 21-year-old has BEEN wanting to walk away from the series. In August 2023, she told Women’s Wear Daily she believed she was “ready” for the show to end.

“I think I’m ready. It’s been such a huge factor in part of my life, but it’s like graduating high school, it’s like senior year,” Millie Bobby Brown said at the time “You’re ready to go and blossom and flourish, and you’re grateful for the time you’ve had, but it’s time to create your own message and live your own life.”

A couple of months before the WWD interview, Mille Bobby Brown made a grown decision at 19. She got engaged to Jake Bongiovi, and they tied the knot a year later, in May 2024. The couple held a low-key ceremony in Italy to celebrate their union. Fun fact: Matthew Modine, who played Papa in the ST series, officiated her wedding.

RELATED: Awww! ‘Stranger Things’ Star Millie Bobby Brown Shares Photos From Her Wedding Celebration In Italy