Actress Ashley Judd has been an outspoken promoter of Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign, and that has earned her some ire online. Actor Dean Cain retweeted a video of Judd supporting Warren with the comment “I’m not exactly sure what to say here… I certainly have nothing positive to say, so I’ll be quiet.”
While he clarified that this snarky comment had to do with his dislike of Warren and Judd’s politics, many people on Twitter saw this as a call to pile on Judd’s appearance.
My friend @AshleyJudd made a few calls to people who chipped in a few dollars to our campaign. I’m proud that our campaign is grassroots—built by people, not Super PACs or billionaires.
Chip in $3 tonight, and Ashley could call you to say thanks! https://t.co/qOzNnVvmg4 pic.twitter.com/2SJOEAGKCp
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 11, 2020
While Cain may have redirected, many people on Twitter started piling on about Judd’s appearance, remarking that she must have gotten work done since she didn’t look the same when she was a young actress (shocking!). “Ashley Judd” even trended on Twitter due to the conversation.
“This makes me so sad. Ashley Judd used to be so beeeeeeautiful and it was a natural type of beauty but she’s had so much work done that she’s almost unrecognizable in this video ??”
“What the actual f-ck happened to Ashley Judd’s face”
“OMG… @AshleyJudd’s face looks like she used bee stings instead of botox and fillers. Or like someone who’s allergic to nuts and chocolate but still could not resist that Snickers bar.”
People immediately jumped to Judd’s defense, pointing out that she suffers from a chronic illness and often has to take the steroid prednisone to manage her symptoms. Prednisone tends to make the user’s face puffy. “Prednisone” also trended on Twitter, with people who also have chronic illnesses sharing pictures of themselves when they are and aren’t taking prednisone to show the effects.
“As someone who has been on high dose steroids for a medical condition for much of my life (and had the moon face to match) I’d just like to offer a heartfelt ‘f-ck you’ to anyone mocking Ashley Judd online right now.”
“I saw Ashley Judd was trending because her face is puffier due to medications for a chronic illness. You’re assholes for mocking anyone experiencing physical changes from an illness and, also, she’s an absolute beauty! Please post pics of your face when mocking another’s.”
“Ashley Judd has been open about the effect that chronic illness medications have on her face. Why would anyone think that attacking a woman’s physical appearance is a suitable response to her social activism? Not only is it sexist, you’re admitting you have no counter argument.”
This breaks my heart. Taking #prednisone is no joke. It saved my life. The side effects are horrific. Whoever is making fun of Ashley Judd is cruel.
Here’s what I looked like when I was almost done tapering off after 4 years.
I was unrecognizable
Be nice-it could happen to you https://t.co/7U6cDRnROJ pic.twitter.com/AyaIV47PMh— Shasta Rayne 🛠🪚⚙️🪓 (@Shasta_Rayne) February 12, 2020
This isn’t the first time that Judd has had to respond to critics of her appearance, penning a powerful essay back in 2012 speaking her truth.
“When I am sick for more than a month and on medication (multiple rounds of steroids), the accusation is that because my face looks puffy, I have ‘clearly had work done,’ with otherwise credible reporters with great bravo ‘identifying’ precisely the procedures I allegedly have had done. The conversation was pointedly nasty, gendered, and misogynistic and embodies what all girls and women in our culture, to a greater or lesser degree, endure every day, in ways both outrageous and subtle.”
So yeah, maybe lay off.
