'I'm Sorry For Having Human Legs': Kristen Bell's Sarcastic Response Against Cellulite Shaming Is So Real

For years, paparazzi culture preyed upon calling out celebrities, specifically female celebrities' so-called "flaws." Kristen Bell was one of many stars whose beach photos became headline news for all the wrong reasons, and readers picked apart her visible cellulite as if it were a shocking revelation of imperfection. In a 2010 interview with ShowbizSpy (via Jezebel), the actor discussed seeing photos from her Hawaii vacation with husband Dax Shepard, in which her cellulite was circled. "When I saw it, I started to sweat, going, 'Oh, my gosh, someone doesn't like me.'" But Bell's concern began to fade the longer she looked at the photos. "I thought, 'I look great!'" she exclaimed. "I'm sorry for having human legs, made of muscle, skin, and fat. Oops. Like I should be apologizing for that!"

Her response surely resonated with those who remember the way tabloid culture of the 2000s chastised women for daring to leave the house with visible blemishes, wrinkles, or a single section of cellulite. It was an infuriating standard, particularly because when you learn about what cellulite really is, you can see that it's actually extremely common. Everyone has fat deposits below the surface of their skin, which will sometimes produce a dimpled appearance, called cellulite. It's very normal and not something that indicates someone is overweight. The condition has more to do with genetics and overall body type, which is why cellulite treatments are generally one of many skincare products that aren't worth the hype.

Kristen Bell's humorous response to her cellulite photos is just one example of how she has refused to let conversations around body image dictate her life. After the "Nobody Wants This" actor welcomed her first daughter, Lincoln, in 2013, she made it clear that losing the baby weight was not an urgent priority for her. "I'm definitely trying to lose it — I want to be clear, but I'm not letting it keep me up at night, and I am not letting it become the narrative of my life for the next year," she explained to E! News. It's a stance that comes as no surprise from the actor who doesn't shy away from showing off, like the (perhaps) inappropriate outfit Kristen Bell wore on "Good Morning America." Bell isn't concerned with tailoring her appearance to the public's expectations, whether it's risky fashion or shedding pounds immediately after having a baby.

In her cover story with Redbook, four months after giving birth, Bell spoke about reconciling her new mom body with an industry so focused on appearance. "I had to surrender to not worrying about the way I looked, how much I weighed, because that's just part of the journey of having a baby," the actor said. "I am not a woman whose self-worth comes from her dress size." Rather than apologizing for cellulite and baby weight, Bell reframed it as something entirely normal, a reminder that even celebrities have "human legs."