15 Male Celebs Who Called Out Hollywood's Unrealistic Body Standards

Jordan Claes
Dwayne Johnson eating French toast
instagram | @therock

There's no middle ground when it comes to male body types in Hollywood. Unless you're fortunate enough to possess the physique of a Greek god, you're unfairly labeled as either too skinny or too fat.

The constant pressure to appear in peak physical form isn't just unreasonable — it's unrealistic. Now, these 15 male celebrities are leading the charge on behalf of all men by calling out Hollywood for setting unrealistic body standards.

Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel beside a quad.
instagram | @vindiesel

Vin Diesel openly decries anyone who seeks to body-shame a perfect stranger, but the Fast and Furious star admits that he's grown a thick skin. "Honestly, I would rather it come to me than somebody else,” he told Good Morning America. “I can take it.”

Grant Gustin

Gran Gustin in green shirt smiling.
instagram | @grantgust

Grant Gustin is clapping back, fed up and frustrated over what he calls the blatant double standard when it comes to male body-shaming. The Flash star explained via Instagram that his body type is naturally thin and how his appetite is greatly affected by stress.

Sam Smith

Sam admits that he became obsessive over his weight due to the incredible pressure the media put upon him to be thin. At his lowest moments, the sultry R&B superstar would constantly pinch his waist and weigh himself multiple times per day.

Jonah Hill

Jonah Hill selfie
instagram | @jonahhill

Back in October of 2021, Jonah took to Instagram to make an impassioned plea to his fans to stop commenting on his weight and body image. Regardless of whether the comments were positive or not, Jonah said that they aren't helpful.

50 Cent

After an incredible performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, all anyone wanted to talk about was 50 Cent's weight. "They’re just teasing me because they know i[sic] can drop the weight. that’s[sic] why i[sic] laugh with them. Fat shaming[sic] only applies when your[sic] ashamed of your fat."

Jason Momoa

Jason Momoa giving thumbs up
instagram | @prideofgypsies

After a topless photo of Aquaman began making the rounds on the internet, fans began body-shaming Jason for not having abs — even going so far as to say that he had a dad-bod.

If Jason Momoa has a "dad-bod," then consider me Arnold Schwarzenneger.

Simu Liu

Simu Liu in blue shirt
instagram | @simuliu

Simu had to work incredibly hard at being able to disconnect his own feelings of self-worth from the media's perception of his attractiveness. He still had his good and bad days, but overall he's feeling more confident and self-assured than ever before.

John Boyega

John Boyega in 'Star Wars'
Giphy | Star Wars

John doesn't understand why all leading men in Hollywood need to be muscular and ripped beyond all recognition. He feels that this feeds into a "false narrative of perfection" and that it's high time we break the spell.

Richard Madden

Richard Madden taking a selfie.
instagram | @maddenrichard

Richard is vehemently opposed to filming scenes with gratuitous nudity. He told Vogue that if a director can explain to him why he needs to be shirtless in a scene, then he'll shed layers without argument. Otherwise, he won't be complicit in projecting a totally unrealistic body image.

Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum in gold Versace robe.
instagram | @channingtatum

Channing told hostess Kelly Clarkson that he literally had to starve himself for his role in Magic Mike. "That might be the reason why I didn't want to do a third one," Channing admitted. "Because I have to look like that."

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller in 'Prison Break'.
Giphy

Wentworth became the subject of a fat-shaming meme back in 2010. He wrote via Facebook that at the time, he was not only struggling with severe depression — but that he was also entertaining suicidal thoughts as well.

Kumail Nanjiani

Kumail Nanjiani eating pie
instagram | @kumailn

Kumail is one of many celebrities who suffers from a condition known as body dysmorphia. He told Vulture that hearing fans and the media reaffirming his darkest thoughts and his most toxic tendencies is incredibly difficult.

Ty Pennington

Ty Pennington selfie in hat
instagram | @thetypennington

Ty was ripped to shreds after an Instagram video of him having fun in the sun began circulating on social media. "There has been such a force behind accepting all shapes and sizes and aging in the female community which is AWESOME but maybe let's give that same grace to men?" Ty wrote via Instagram.

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck at awards show.
Giphy

Ben Affleck's physique has been the subject of ridicule ever since he was cast to play the Dark Knight in Batman Vs. Superman. After a particularly cruel article was published in The New Yorker, Affleck joked how he had thick skin emboldened by "garish tattoos."

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson eating french toast
instagram | @therock

When Dwayne was in the midst of making a transition from WWE superstar to Hollywood action hero, some thought he was too bulky and should lose some of his mass. In true "People's Champ" fashion, he gave that idea the Rock Bottom.

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