In this day and age, we're no strangers to social media feuds. Famous people always seem to have some kind of beef with each other, and it's so frequent that we've come to expect it.
We can't keep up with the shade the Kardashians throw. Even more, well-respected celebrities like Taylor Swift and Jameela Jamil dabble in online pettiness. But no one expected a virtual feud from Amanda Seyfried, who I didn't even know had an Instagram, in all honesty.
The actor called out Arielle Charnas this week when the influencer posted a photo of herself in a bikini with the caption: “Proud of my body after two kids.”
Amanda responded with her own Instagram post of a screenshot comment her friend shared on the influencer's original photo. Are you following the nuanced thread that is social media shade?
Amanda's friend's comment acknowledged that Arielle was glorifying an unhealthy body image and using her platform for the wrong reasons:
"If you don't acknowledge how your wealth made your workouts/body possible, you're just perpetuating the patriarchal (totally unrealistic) notion that mothers should 'bounce back' after childbirth, an impossibility for anyone who can't afford ample childcare (which is almost everyone in this country)."
Amanda's caption on the screenshot read:
"If we’re ready to get paid for flaunting our lifestyle (and inspiring some in the meantime), we have to be open to the discussions surrounding what we’re promoting. We have to back ourselves up - not run away from the issues it presents. There are gray areas everywhere. Each of us has a chance to back ourselves - especially on this platform. If you know who you are - take a second to decide if what you’re throwing out there is worth it - in the big picture.”
She followed up with this selfie:
But my newfound interest in Amanda's feed amidst this drama doesn't stop there. She recently posted a formal half apology for her backlash. While she recognised that she shouldn't have singled out Arielle, she adamantly stood by her previous post with a caption that read:
"You have to be aware of the message you’re sending and be able to back it up when faced with criticism (not just praise). Hold yourselves accountable instead of using the terms above. The only thing I’d take back is exactly how I started this debate. I desperately wish it hadn’t targeted (or blasted) one person (there are MANY who engage in this questionable messaging) and instead started a cleaner, general conversation."
"No one needs to tear anyone apart. And I regret that it’s present right now. To the lady in question: I’m sorry for the truly negative feels you’ve endured because of this. Aside from the messy detour? The bigger, important message seems to filtering through and helping a lot of women feel supported. And that’s the name of the game."
I, for one, have learned my lesson and will now adamantly follow Amanda Seyfried online so I don't miss another one of these life lessons.