The Bachelor and Bachelor In Paradise Australia alum Abbie Chatfield has taken to Instagram to hit back at multiple anonymous body-shaming online trolls, particularly one who—disgustingly—called her “Flabby Abbie”.
Sharing an Instagram post on September 6, Chatfield showed an array of screenshots that showed the awful comments that she receives about her body. The comments range from calling her “fat” to “pathetic”, even accusing her of “pretending to exercise”.
In response to the hurtful remarks, Chatfield wrote: “It’s been over a year of being in the media to a certain degree and comments like these only get a tiiiiny bit easier. Yes, they’re laughable. Yes, our value doesn’t come from our weight and yes, being ‘fat’ shouldn’t even be a bad word BUT it still sucks.”
She added: “It gets exhausting and I just want it to stop. I want it to stop for me, but also for people who read these comments and think it’s the norm. Speaking about women as objects, analysing their weight and saying you would ‘take them for a ride’ is especially repugnant.”
“Saying all I need to do is stay the ‘correct’ weight is… f**ked? It implies that to have worth I need to stay thin, and that my value exists only when I fit into a standard of beauty that is not realistic.”
As a final clap back, putting her online trolls to shame, she ended with a positive note, telling her followers to embrace their insecurities, saying:
“BUT what do I do when I feel insecure? Post the insecurities here so you can all see! Huge GRRR energy.”
Sadly, this isn’t the first time that Chatfield has opened up about the abuse she receives online. Back in June, she revealed that she receives online abuse and threats of violence daily, forcing her to fear for her safety.
“At one point I was scared to be recognised in public, for fear of my safety,” she wrote.
“I still get worried when people ask for photos with me that they’re going to say something to hurt me or take a photo with me and joke about me with their friends. This isn’t a joke. I shouldn’t be falling asleep worried someone will break into my apartment and strangle me.”
Yet again, Chatfield’s experiences have highlighted not only the bullying that those of reality TV fame receive constantly, but the unfair, unrealistic and damaging expectations women and our bodies are held up against every day, almost always at the expense of our health, wellbeing and confidence. Threatening, bullying and shaming someone is never okay. We are more than just our bodies. Thank you to Abbie for another necessary reminder.
If you or someone you know is struggling with bullying, you can call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or visit the website. Beyond Blue is an Australia-wide free-call service and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
