Michael Bublé Called Out for Body Shaming in a Controversial Instagram Photo

Bublé posted an image his wife took while they were in Miami which shows him in the foreground with an amused look on his face. In the background is a woman with very short shorts – so short that her butt cheeks are on full display. This young woman appears to be in the checkout line at a store and unaware that she is being photographed.

“There was something about this photo lu took, that seemed worthy of Instagram,” he wrote, with the hashtag #myhumps #babygotback #beautifulbum and more. Many people thought that Bublé was making fun of the woman’s figure. “I hope you and the person that took this pic have perfect bodies,” one commenter sniped. “That’s just mean to laugh at someone and then post it that you’re laughing at them.”

But is this really body shaming? At best, it’s an observation, at worst, it’s an invasion of privacy. You can argue that the woman left the house in those shorts with the intention of drawing attention (it’s not as common to see someone’s butt cheeks out, as opposed to say, extreme cleavage), but whether or not she wore the shorts as an IRL thirst trap (nothing wrong with that), it is a bit disrespectful to take pictures of people without their permission. As one commenter said, “Newsflash: wearing something considered revealing doesn’t give the right for some has-been to exploit her and ridicule her.” But, then again, there are Instagram accounts dedicated to taking pictures of unsuspecting people, some of which are celebrated. You would be hard-pressed to find backlash against an Instagram account like Hot Dudes Reading, which you can argue is a violation of privacy as none of the men photographed appear to have given consent to having their picture taken. 

Bublé does have his supporters. Many commenters saw the backlash as much ado about nothing. “I so don’t understand… why the uproar! He was complimenting her butt, who cares?!” Either way, he has caused an assload of controversy over the picture, which has yet to be taken down and it doesn’t look like he will anytime soon.

[h/t Cosmopolitan]

UPDATE: Micheal Bublé issued a statement this afternoon regarding the backlash over the photo:

“Anybody who knows me would never misinterpret the message of the photo my wife took in Miami that seems to have caused unexpected rage by some people. I do not court controversy. But I realize that a photo that was meant to be complimentary and lighthearted has turned into a questionable issue. For the record, It hurts me deeply that anyone would think that I would disrespect women or be insulting to any human being.. I was not brought up that way and it is not in my character. I regret that there are people out there who found the photo offensive. That was not and is not my intention. Women are to be celebrated, loved, respected, honored and revered. I’ve spent my life believing that and will continue to do so.”

Are you satisfied with his apology?

 

Trending


X