The internet can be a wonderful place filled with helpful tutorials, funny viral videos and great travel recommendations - just to name a handful of its virtues!
However, as many of us unfortunately know, it can be a pretty grim place a lot of the time, jam-packed with online creeps, social media sleuths and internet trolls.
And the likes of Jennifer Love Hewitt has just this week experienced the full brunt of the latter category after becoming the recipient of an avalanche of seriously 'disgusting' body-shaming comments following her latest appearance.
On Monday (14 July), the 90s icon rocked up at the premiere of the 2025 reboot of the 1997 classic, I Know What You Did Last Summer, looking absolutely stunning in a beaded floor-length black dress - a fact which is besides the point.
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While many fans praised her look, trolls - some of which were shockingly women themselves - took it upon themselves to offer up their unsolicited opinions on Hewitt's figure.
Many of which showed their sheer stupidity and ignorance even more as they posted side-by-side snaps of the 46-year-old mother-of-three now next to when she was quite literally a teenager decades ago.
I know.
Thankfully, scores of fans fought back against such ridiculousness.
One X user made the brilliant suggestion that anyone chatting absolutely nonsense online about Hewitt's body should take to social media if they're so brave and post their own full-body picture for the world to ridicule, judge and criticise.
"Jennifer Love Hewitt is still gorgeous at 46, and anyone criticising her should have to post their own full-body picture," they advised.
A second hit out: "Jennifer Love Hewitt has survived two decades of Hollywood, horror movies, and low-rise jeans - and y’all think your opinion on her body matters? If your first reaction to seeing a woman with a healthy, aging body is to shame her, the problem isn’t her body. It’s your brain."
"It amazes me how many people criticise," lamented another. "These people think their opinions matter. We are all just a speck in time in an endless universe. Make it great and stop the hate."
And a final X user declared: "This discourse on Jennifer Love Hewitt and her body is disgusting."
Damn right it is.
Now, despite 'how good' you personally feel Hewitt looks 'for her age' or 'considering she's had three kids' is far from the point - because, realistically, what exactly does a 46-year-old mother-of-three look like?
The point is that women shouldn't have to fit into a narrow, patriarchal definition of 'beauty' or 'attractiveness' in order to garner respect - whether they're a public figure in Hollywood or not.
As disheartening as it may feel to watch critics make appalling comments like the ones Hewitt has sadly bore the brunt of - it's very assuring to see just how many people teamed up to take a stand against the relentless policing of women's bodies.
Topics: Celebrity, Social Media
Rhiannon Ingle