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Jameela Jamil has a new method for dealing with criticism: ‘I just shut up and listen’

The Good Place actor discusses the importance of intersectionality in the body positivity movement

Sabrina Barr
Friday 01 February 2019 11:06 GMT
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Jameela Jamil explains how she came to 'value herself' and wants to inspire others

Jameela Jamil has become an outspoken advocate of the body positivity movement, creating the I Weigh campaign and regularly using her platform to raise awareness of prevalent issues such as body shaming.

While the actor and activist has received a lot of praise for her efforts, she's also received some criticism from those who've questioned whether she's inclusive enough of all people.

Jamil has addressed the way she used to respond to these critical comments, and how her attitude towards criticism has changed in recent times.

"I don't take it personally anymore, and I think I used to get defensive and when I would be called out for not being intersectional enough or just feel frustrated that people were expecting too much of me, but now I just shut up and listen," The Good Place star tells Elle.

"I realise that there are people who are going through a lot and I would like to help those people, so I just focus on the good."

Earlier this month, Jamil shared an open letter on Twitter directed at those who've questioned her right to call out body shaming due to the fact that she's a slim woman.

The former BBC Radio 1 presenter explains that as her online platform has grown over the past year, more scrutiny has been placed on the comments that she makes about the body positivity movement.

"Often, in the last year I've become the loudest voice that's been allowed in body positivity and I think that has given some people the wrong idea: that I think that I speak for all people, which I don't," the actor says.

"It's just that I have a platform and a privilege that allows me to be listened to and heard, when other people who are actually struggling with these things are being ignored."

Jamil explains that she's afraid of being "complicit" in excluding certain groups of women from conversations centred around body positivity, which is why she's so receptive to feedback.

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The actor has recently been named one of the newest ambassadors for lingerie company Aerie, alongside The Handmaid's Tale star Samira Wiley, model Iskra Lawrence and Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman.

Aerie's commitment to inclusivity was one of the main reasons why Jamil wanted to work with the brand.

"Seeing people from all walks of life and all ages modelling underwear and modelling clothes was just such a breath of fresh air," she says.

"When I walked into their store I realized how much I could've benefited from having a store like that and a company like that when I was younger, so I was very excited to be a part of it."

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