Millie Bobby Brown praised for brutal clapback after paparazzi told her to 'smile'

Millie Bobby Brown telling a photographer off for asking her to smile has gone viral online, with people praising the actress for the bold move.

Now, we thought by now everyone knew that telling women to smile is a big no-no.

When you're having a bad day, maybe have had some negative news, are in a rush to get somewhere, or are simply just existing with a neutral look on your face, it can be infuriating when a man shouts at you to smile.

While it might seem like a friendly gesture, it's especially strange when people, usually men, tell women they've never even met before to smile.

This is because women shouldn't have to always seem perfectly approachable and cheery - sometimes we want to walk around with a RBF - and that's okay.

As per Stylist, Laura Bates from the Everyday Sexism project explains: "Being told to smile is one of the most common ways in which women’s privacy is invaded in public spaces.

Millie Bobby Brown has gone viral for her response to a photographer on the red carpet (Mike Marsland/WireImage)

“It might sound minor, but it is part of a spectrum of behaviour that normalises the idea that women’s bodies are public property: fair game for comment and instruction from strangers."

As we say, the 21-year-old Stranger Things actress was faced with this exact awkward moment in front of a bunch of cameras at the season five premiere of the Netflix show last night.

The cast turned up on Thursday evening (13 November) to emotionally say goodbye to the show they've been part of for almost a decade. And as Millie, who plays Eleven, was posing for some paparazzi shots on the red carpet, one pap is heard shouting: "Millie give us a smile!"

Shocked, she shouted back: "Smile? You smile!" and rushed off away from the cameras. Take a look at the iconic moment here:

The video has quickly racked up views on social media and fans are rushing to praise the actress for the comeback, writing on Twitter: "As she should" and Photographer really tried it - she hit him with reverse card immediately."

A third wrote: "Photographer thought he had authority, she reminded him he’s just holding a Nikon."

While a fourth agreed: "She said it exactly how i would've done. if someone wants me to smile, they better give me a real reason."

A fifth joked: "She hit him with the UNO reverse card so fast the flash couldn’t keep up."

The actress told the paps: "You smile!" (Neil Mockford/Getty Images)

And a sixth added: "Don’t ever tell a woman to smile. That’s why she f**king got mad. Not cause she’s a brat. I would’ve done the same thing."

Others chimed in with: "Okaayyyyyy period! Let the woman serve face in peace. My God" and "LMAOOO not a fan but i love when women pop off."

Meanwhile, others compared the star to singer Chappell Roan, who's confronted photographers a few times on the red carpet for yelling at her and being disrespectful.

Fans quipped: "I see Chappell in her" and "Even her hair was channeling Chappell."

And another joked: "She in Chappells bag."

Stranger Things season 5 premieres with Volume 1 on 26 November, followed by Volume 2 on 25 December, and the finale on 31 December.