For some reason, once a woman has some form of celebrity status, people think they have an unspoken right to ask/assume personal things.
Asking a woman if she is expecting a baby is not a new thing - just look at tabloid front covers from the past few decades.
But that doesn't make it OK and it has to stop.
The latest star to have her personal life invaded by inappropriate questions is Outlander actor Caitriona Balfe.
To all those who think it’s appropriate to ask. No, I’m not pregnant, just having my period and was bloated.... so yeah... thanks for asking. #notreally #notallstomachsarewashboards
— Caitriona Balfe (@caitrionambalfe) June 4, 2019
The 39-year-old was at an event promoting the upcoming fifth season of the show with co-star Sam Heughan.
She posted a snap of the two of them to social media and was inundated with comments from fans asking if she was pregnant.
One said, ''Cait, Are you going to be mom?. The photo looks like it betrays your pregnancy. If so, congratulations!!!''
Caitriona responded to the comments by writing, ''To all those who think it’s appropriate to ask. No, I’m not pregnant. Just having my period and was bloated…So yeah…Thanks for asking. Not really. Not all stomachs are washboards.”
This is a story as old as time - Jennifer Aniston has spent years defending her body to the media.
She had enough and in 2016, wrote an essay for Huffington Post.
Honestly wtf is going on this is so wildly inappropriate, irrelevant and I applaud you even having the dignity to respond to these people. I despair that women still have to deal with this. You are a proud and inspiring example to us all, Cait. X
— Lauren Lyle (@LlaurenLyle) June 4, 2019
She said, ''For the record, I am not pregnant. What I am is fed up. The objectification and scrutiny we put women through is absurd and disturbing. ''
She continued, ''We use celebrity “news” to perpetuate this dehumanizing view of females, focused solely on one’s physical appearance, which tabloids turn into a sporting event of speculation. Is she pregnant? Is she eating too much? Has she let herself go?''
Oh my god I actually can't with people who think it's appropriate to comment such things... Sorry you had to read that, Caitriona.
— miss avocato mug (@samcaitscat) June 4, 2019
She added, ''Here’s where I come out on this topic: we are complete with or without a mate, with or without a child. I have grown tired of being part of this narrative. Yes, I may become a mother some day, and since I’m laying it all out there, if I ever do, I will be the first to let you know. But I’m not in pursuit of motherhood because I feel incomplete in some way, as our celebrity news culture would lead us all to believe.''
Here, here Jen.
Women in the media spotlight should not have to answer to intrusive strangers about their bodies and we applaud Caitriona for speaking out.
It's time we let this worn-out and quite frankly rude narrative go, don't you think?
