How Jonah Hill Responds to a History of Public Mockery After Shirtless Photos Make Waves Online

Jonah Hill is one of those underrated actors who has the potential to play dramatic roles but gets typecast based on the way that he looks. Luckily, after his performance in Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street, Hollywood started paying more attention to the talented actor. However, there are still people who continue commenting on Hill’s appearance despite his wishes.

Jonah Hill started his career at a young age.

Even though he didn’t start his acting career as a kid, like many actors in the industry did, he began relatively young at around 21 years old. In the beginning, he struggled with being typecast and shamed, saying, “I came up in goofy comedies as this kind of, like, curly-haired, overweight kid and everyone had their own opinion on what I should be, how they could speak to me, how they could treat me.”

The media and fans have commented on his body throughout his career.

Jonah Hill’s fame arrived when he played a memorable character in the movie Superbad. “I became famous in my late teens and then spent most of my young adult life listening to people say I was fat and gross and unattractive.” According to the actor, this took a toll in his mental health.

The Superbad star has also been vocal about how the media stalked him to take pictures of his body at the beach. About that issue the actor stated, “I don’t think I ever took my shirt off in a pool until I was in my mid 30s, even in front of family and friends.” Hill continued “Probably would have happened sooner if my childhood insecurities weren’t exacerbated by years of public mockery about my body by the press and interviewers.”

Hill made a request to his fans.

A couple of years ago, after receiving unsolicited comments about his body, the actor wanted to establish some boundaries with his followers. Hill commented, “I know you mean well, but I kindly ask that you not comment on my body,” he said. “Good or bad I want to politely let you know it’s not helpful and doesn’t feel good. Much respect.”

He opened up about how being body-shamed affects him mentally.

In a personal essay written for Inner Children Magazine, Jonah Hill delved deeper into the impact that body shaming had on him. He revealed that despite being in the public eye for years, it wasn’t until he wrote and directed Mid90s that he began to truly understand the pain caused by hurtful comments about his appearance. Hill went on to explain that he had always struggled with body image issues and had internalized the negative comments, leading to a negative self-image.

Now, Hill is trying to love himself, and we should do the same.

Despite all the years of body-shaming he endured, Hill has been working on his mental health and his self-perception. A couple of years ago, the actor wrote, “I’m 37 and finally love and accept myself.” Although the Superbad star knows it takes time. “I wish I could understand that, as an adult, you don’t have to be so hard on yourself,” Hill admitted. “And I’m still getting there, it’s not like I figured it out, the journey is the destination.”

His candidness about his struggles serves as a reminder that it’s time for society to start treating all bodies with the respect and kindness they deserve.