Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart Turned a Pregnancy Rumor into a Lesson in Body Positivity
Riverdale stars Lili Reinhart and Camila Mendes have been vocal about body positivity in the past, and they’re speaking out again now, amid ridiculous pregnancy rumors and comments about Reinhart’s appearance in a photo making the rounds online.
“It’s unfortunate that one unflattering photo of my stomach circulating the internet causes hundreds of people to think that I’m pregnant. Nope. Not pregnant,” Reinhart, who plays Betty Cooper on the hit CW drama, said in an Instagram story.
“This is just my body. And sometimes I’m bloated,” she continued. “Sometimes an unflattering photo is taken of me. Sometimes I go through periods of time where I gain weight. My body is something that I will NEVER apologize for. My body will constantly go through change. And so will yours. And that’s fine. So let’s not put so much time and effort into caring about a stranger’s figure.”
Reinhart’s costar Mendes also took to Instagram stories to back up her BFF and preach the importance of embracing your body exactly as it is. “Inspired by you @lilireinhart. I feel bloated 24/7, my weight fluctuates constantly — it comes with being a woman and should be celebrated, not criticized,” she wrote.
“I used to fear that day that people start publicly criticizing my body and commenting on my weight. I’ve suffered too much from my own self criticism and wasn’t sure that I could handle it from others,” she continued. “But seeing somebody as beautiful as Lili respond to public scrutiny by preaching and practicing self love is all it takes for me to overcome that fear. Proud to call her my friend. Let’s continue inspiring women to love their bodies.”
This isn’t the first time the duo have teamed up to take on the culture of body shaming and unrealistic expectations. In March, they took to social media to call out all the ways their bodies were Photoshopped for a magazine spread. And Mendes, in particular, has been vocal about her experiences with eating disorders. Something tells us this won’t be the last time they speak out, either.
What did you think of Lili’s response to the pregnancy rumors? Let us know @BritandCo!
(photo via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images + Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)