Can celebrities really manifest their dream roles through style choices?
“All I could think about was the incessant, manipulative bullying I’ve received at his hands for years," Swift wrote. “This is my worst case scenario.”
“Now Scooter has stripped me of my life’s work, that I wasn’t given an opportunity to buy. Essentially, my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it.”
She tore down the unrealistic beauty standards that have women "sprinting through Jurassic Park in heels, fighting supervillains in strapless corsets, being stranded on deserted islands for days without a hint of stubble," and shared a devastating and rare honesty.
See also: Famous women reveal the moment they felt successful.
After being criticized for moving around too much in her DJ sets, the Icelandic singer posted an explosive open letter on Facebook, pointing out that no man had ever received the same criticism, and alleging critics unfairly picked on her because she wrote songs about things others than romance. "Eat your bechdel test heart out."
"It's hard to get out of bed in the morning…when it feels like there's trouble after trouble after trouble," he also shared. "Sometimes it can even get to the point where you don't even want to live anymore. Where you feel like it's never going to change."
"It's taken me years to bounce back from all of these terrible decisions, fix broken relationships, and change relationship habits."
On October 1, 2019, Prince Harry issued a statement after his wife Meghan Markle sued the Mail for publishing a private letter she had sent her father. Defending his wife, he also references his late mother, Princess Diana: "I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.
"I wrote this because I knew for me I needed to say something before I could move on from this and return back to life, so I truly thank you for allowing me to do so," she wrote. "Jack will always be loved, explained to our kids as existing in the wind and trees and the butterflies they see."
On October 27, Teigen published a deeply personal essay about losing what would have been her third child with John Legend. "People say an experience like this creates a hole in your heart," she wrote. "A hole was certainly made, but it was filled with the love of something I loved so much."
The letter was filled with gratitude for all the support and kind words she has received, especially those that started with "You don’t have to respond to this, but…" She also wrote about what happened to her in the hospital (best read in the essay itself), her decision to share photos of her grief, and how she's adjusting to the grief.
Christopher Noland, Steve McQueen, Ridley Scott, Guy Ritchie, and Jude Law are among 40 key figures from the film industry who penned a letter to UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak calling for more support for UK cinema, which they say is “standing on the edge of an abyss.” Box offices around the world have been hit hard by COVID-19 closures, with the UK specifically experiencing a 76% drop from the year prior. They film industry pros called for “targeted funding support to ensure that future generations can enjoy the magic of cinema,” Deadline reports.
"I won't ask for your forgiveness, only your patience and tolerance," Teigen wrote. "I ask that you allow me, as I promise to allow you, to own past mistakes and be given the opportunity to seek self-improvement and change."
Weeks after coming under fire for resurfaced tweets that took aim at a then teenage-aged Courtney Stodden, Chrissy Teigen broke her silence with an open letter published to Medium. "It has been a VERY humbling few weeks," she began, explaining, "Not a day, not a single moment has passed where I haven't felt the crushing weight of regret for the things I've said in the past." She wrote that she is in the process of making amends with the people she has hurt. "There is simply no excuse for my past horrible tweets," Teigen continued. She tried to explain her motivation at the time to "troll" celebrities online and seem relatable, but she added, "I was insecure, immature and in a world where I thought I needed to impress strangers to be accepted."
Teigen expressed her own incredulity at her past words and actions, explaining that she's grown a lot since then. But, she added, "I'm telling you this for context, not seeking or deserving any sympathy," she wrote. "There's no justification for my behavior. I'm not a victim here. The subjects of your sympathy—and mine—should be those I put down."
She continued, "It would mean the world to us, as we take our daughter to see and explore NYC and the world, if you would PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE blur her face out of images, if and when she is caught on camera. I know it's an extra effort—but as a new mom, I just want the best for my baby, as all parents do…and I hope this can continue the conversation to protect minors in the media, even if they come from a public family." She also thanked the paparazzi who have been respecting her wishes already.
"You know we have never intentionally shared our daughters face on social media," she explained. "Our wish is that she can choose how to share herself with the world when she comes of age, and that she can live as normal of a childhood as possible, without worrying about a public image that she has not chosen."
Gigi Hadid welcomed her daughter Khai in pandemic-afforded privacy. But now that the world is slowly starting to open up, the famously low-profile model decided to address the public about her and Zayn Malik's child. In what she titled a "letter from a mamma" on July 5, 2021, Hadid addressed the paparazzi, the press, and fan accounts about her wishes in raising her girl. "As our baby grows up we have to realize that we can't protect her from everything the way we wanted to and could when she was smaller," she wrote. She explained that she wants her daughter to see the diversity of NYC, but "without the stress of the media circus that comes with parents who are public figures." Hadid acknowledged the laws around paparazzi taking photos of children differ between states, though she's seen paps blur kids' faces in their photos. "From asking around," she continued, "I believe that that comes down to the integrity of the photographer, publications or fans sharing the images." And that's where her plea, and her argument for the protection of minors at large, comes in.
One month prior, 270 doctors, physicians, and science educators came together to sign an open letter asking Spotify to stop giving people like Rogan such a huge platform for harmful claims. The open letter included: “With an estimated 11 million listeners per episode, JRE, which is hosted exclusively on Spotify, is the world’s largest podcast and has tremendous influence. Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform, though the company presently has no misinformation policy." Since Young's spotlight on the issue, Spotify has announced that they will be adding content advisories to clamp down on Covid misinformation.
On January 23, Neil Young penned an open letter to his management team and record label demanding that they remove his music from Spotify. “I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines – potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them,” he wrote. A few days later, all his music was removed from the platform. "They can have Rogan or Young. Not both," he wrote, referencing the stream of misinformation about vaccines that Joe Rogan has been peddling on his podcast 'The Joe Rogan Experience.' Fellow folk legend Joni Mitchell joined Young with a message on her website on January 28, similarly calling for her music to be removed and explaining, "Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives." Mitchell did not specifically name Rogan in her post, but she did link to the same open letter signed by medical professionals and health experts.
Shawn Mendes wrote a short letter to his fans as a way to "communicate with you guys in a real honest way" about his struggles and hopefully let others know they're not alone. "Sometimes I ask myself what it is that I should be doing with my life and what I always hear in return is 'to tell the truth, to be the truth,'" he began in his letter, which he posted on Twitter April 19. "I feel like that's a hard thing to do though. I'm afraid that if people know and see the truth they might think less of me." He admitted that when he's feeling low he either hides or puts on a show, but the truth is that he constantly feels as though he's "either flying or drowning." He noted that maybe that's what everyone's 20s feel like, but added that while he wants to be his "true honest unique self" without caring what others think, "most of the time it's a struggle."
"The truth is even with so much success I still find it hard to feel like I'm not failing. Hyper focused on what I don't have, forgetting to see all that I do. The truth is that I'm overwhelmed and overstimulated." But Mendes clarified he's okay, and that he just wanted to share his truth because it "might resonate with some people."
Pete Davidson, a star without social media, shared an open letter to his friend Dave Sirus' Instagram as a way to publicly say goodbye to 'Saturday Night Live' after starring on the show for eight years. Ahead of his final episode in May, Davidson wrote, "I got to share so much with this audience and literally grow up in front of your eyes. We were together through the good and the bad, the happiest and the darkest of times," he continued. "I owe Lorne Michaels and everyone at SNL my life. I'm so grateful and I wouldn’t be here without them. I appreciate you guys always having my back and sticking up for me even when that wasn’t the popular opinion. Thank you for always believing in me and sticking by my side even when it seemed comical. Thank you for teaching me life values, how to grow up and for giving me memories that will last a lifetime." His letter accompanied a video of Jerrod Carmichael hugging him after he'd finished his first update and sketch on the show. "SNL is my home. I’m so happy and sad about tonight’s show. For so many reasons I can’t explain. Can’t wait to be back next year in a Mulaney musical number," Davidson concluded.
Jonah Hill revealed that his ongoing struggles with anxiety were worsened by the media circus and public appearances involved in promoting a new film. In an effort to be true to himself and work on his mental health, he announced that he'll no longer promote his movies. Hill's latest project, a documentary called 'Stutz,' features the actor and his therapist as they explore mental health and therapy. In his open letter, Hill wrote, "The whole purpose of making this film is to give therapy and the tools I’ve learned in therapy to a wide audience for private use through an entertaining film."
Hill goes on to explain his decision to avoid publicity events: "I have come to the understanding that I have spent nearly 20 years experiencing anxiety attacks, which are exacerbated by media appearances and public facing events." He continues, "If I made myself sicker by going out there and promoting it, I wouldn’t be acting true to myself or to the film." Hill concluded that he hopes the work will speak for itself and thanked his fans for their understanding and support.
Open letters have proven to be a powerful way to get a message out there, and many celebrities have started penning them as a vehicle for change, revelation, or to combat the tabloids.
Zayn Malik recently penned an open letter to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, advocating for fellow parents on an issue close to his heart: food insecurity. The former One Direction member made a heartfelt plea asking the politician to "act in good conscience" and allocate funds for free school meals for children living in poverty by the November 17 budget deadline.
"I know what that shame feels like, I have seen it first hand, as growing up in Bradford, I relied on Free School Meals. I personally experienced the stigma surrounding food insecurity," the singer shared in his November 7 letter on Instagram. "My hope is that in writing this letter we can all ensure that no child ever has to experience this hunger and stigma again as my experience is not unique; it is a struggle that many children in England are sadly going through right now." He wrote that as recently as September 2022, "four million children live in households who experienced food poverty."
Malik himself became a father in 2020, and he stressed the importance of taking care of family. "No parent should have to make impossible decisions like whether to buy food, turn on the heating, or go into debt. Knowing that their children are getting a good lunch at school would be a huge relief to parents who are struggling." He emphasized that the cost-of-living crisis "only creates bigger divides between the richest and the poorest" and that Free School Meals would "guarantee a reliably hot, nutritious lunch every day at school, so children can thrive rather than worrying about where their next meal comes from."
"Children going hungry is not inevitable and should not come down to a political issue or ideology," he concluded.
Click through this gallery to read up on more open letters from the stars.
Zayn Malik and other celebs who penned open letters
The former One Direction member advocates for struggling parents in letter to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
CELEBRITY Life
Open letters have proven to be a powerful way to get a message out there, and many celebrities have started penning them as a vehicle for change, revelation, or to combat the tabloids.
Zayn Malik recently penned an open letter to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, advocating for fellow parents on an issue close to his heart: food insecurity. The former One Direction member made a heartfelt plea asking the politician to "act in good conscience" and allocate funds for free school meals for children living in poverty by the November 17 budget deadline.
"I know what that shame feels like, I have seen it first hand, as growing up in Bradford, I relied on Free School Meals. I personally experienced the stigma surrounding food insecurity," the singer shared in his November 7 letter on Instagram. "My hope is that in writing this letter we can all ensure that no child ever has to experience this hunger and stigma again as my experience is not unique; it is a struggle that many children in England are sadly going through right now." He wrote that as recently as September 2022, "four million children live in households who experienced food poverty."
Malik himself became a father in 2020, and he stressed the importance of taking care of family. "No parent should have to make impossible decisions like whether to buy food, turn on the heating, or go into debt. Knowing that their children are getting a good lunch at school would be a huge relief to parents who are struggling." He emphasized that the cost-of-living crisis "only creates bigger divides between the richest and the poorest" and that Free School Meals would "guarantee a reliably hot, nutritious lunch every day at school, so children can thrive rather than worrying about where their next meal comes from."
"Children going hungry is not inevitable and should not come down to a political issue or ideology," he concluded.
Click through this gallery to read up on more open letters from the stars.