Why Lily Isn't Showing Her Body In AT&T's NCAA Commercials
Body shaming and body comments have reared their ugly heads again. Good grief. It's nothing new, sadly, and the issue is especially amplified on social media. While the problem seems to be worse for women, body shaming has affected men, too, so it seems like no one is immune from this endless talk. While we cheer on celebs who call out their body-shamers, it still seems really unfair that this is something anybody has to do.
Unfortunately, body comments have affected AT&T's commercial actor Milana Vayntrub, who has played the character Lily Adams for years. Vayntrub has also starred in Ghostbusters, This is Us, and the TV series Dad, among many other credits, according to her IMDb page. So clearly, Vayntrub is familiar with the ins and outs of celebrity and show business. Nevertheless, Vayntrub has made a major decision about how she physically appears in said AT&T ads and her response was powerful. Here's what's going on.
Milana Vayntrub says audiences have 'lost the privilege of looking' at her body
Milana Vayntrub is speaking out against those who feel entitled to comment on her body. The AT&T commercial star, who goes by the character Lily Adams, responded to questions about why she's standing behind a desk in new commercials or choosing postures where only her face is visible. "Been getting a lot of 'why are they placing her body like that in those ads?'" Vayntrub tweeted on March 20, 2021. "Well, I direct the ads. I place myself like that. And it's because of the thousands of unwelcome comments I receive about my body. You've lost the privilege of looking at it until I feel safe again."
Vayntrub has been dealing with body-shamers, as well as comments that are lewd and sexual, according to CinemaBlend. We won't repeat them here, so as not to give them power, but it's clear that the unsolicited feedback is taking its toll on the star. This isn't the first time Vayntrub has addressed these sexually charged comments, either. In August 2020, a fan tweeted her TikTok video where Vayntrub said, "Let me tell you, I am not consenting to any of this. I do not want any of this." We're definitely on board with this sentiment!
Fans praised the actor's decision, calling her a 'hero'
What does AT&T's cell service have to do with a woman's body? Absolutely nothing — and fans are loving that Milana Vayntrub is standing her ground. "Hero," writer and comedian Akilah Hughes responded to Vayntrub's tweet. "Hell yes," wrote Rachel Heine, Nerdist's VP of Brand Strategy. "Amen sis! Your body is [fire emoji] and these fools don't deserve it!" tweeted actor Laci Mosley. Vayntrub responded to Mosley's tweet with words of appreciation, writing, "Thanks Laci. You're so magical." Women supporting women; we simply love to see it.
Other people focused on Vayntrub's other reveal: She's not just starring in the commercials, she's directing them, too. "So glad you're directing, that's awesome!" one person responded to Vayntrub's tweet. "Congrats on the director gig! Hope it leads to more opportunities in the big chair," another person tweeted at the actor-director. "I love that you're in control of the commercials. Keep doing what you need to feel and be safe!!" another encouraging fan tweeted.
The trolls are abundant, but fortunately, so are the words of support for Vayntrub and her decision. She's in control, and she's not letting body-shamers take that away from her.