Emily Ratajkowski has expressed her discomfort with comedian Celeste Barber’s Instagram parodies of her photos, leading to a digital divide between the two well-known personalities.
Celeste Barber, a popular Australian comedian, has gained a significant social media following by hilariously recreating exaggerated celebrity Instagram snapshots.
However, not everyone finds her humor appealing, especially when they are the subjects of her parodies, like Ratajkowski.
Ratajkowski openly shared her desire for Barber to stop using her photos for parody content.
The model’s concern stems from an incident in 2021 when Barber satirized one of Ratajkowski’s swimwear campaigns with a caption that Ratajkowski found offensive.
The caption read, “We are sick of you objectifying our bodies! Also, here’s my ass.” In a November interview on Australia’s Nova radio station with Fitzy and Wippa, Barber acknowledged, “I don’t think Emily is a fan. That’s okay; she’s allowed to not love it. But she blocked me.”
Barber’s post had sparked a debate among her followers, with some accusing it of perpetuating “internalized misogyny” and implying that women who proudly display their bodies invite objectification.
Recently, Ratajkowski addressed the matter on her High Low podcast in response to a fan’s question about the ongoing “drama” with Barber. She clarified, “This whole drama with Celeste has been blown out of proportion. Generally, I find her really funny. But the message I was trying to send to her was, ‘I just don’t want you to do this to me anymore.'”
Ratajkowski further explained the need to balance her various roles, such as advocating for women’s rights in the industry and running her swimwear line.
During the time of Barber’s controversial post, Ratajkowski had written an article for The Cut titled “Buying Myself Back,” addressing the issue of unauthorized use of her image.
Ratajkowski emphasized that she doesn’t hold any personal grudges against Barber. However, she believes that Barber’s comedic style often projects an unfair and misogynistic perspective towards women who freely express their bodies, which is a significant aspect of Ratajkowski’s professional career.
She elaborated on the matter, stating, “We tend to target female influencers. They are considered the trashiest, most cringeworthy, and most embarrassing people on the planet.”
Ratajkowski highlighted the underlying sexism in this stance, arguing that women who work as influencers are pursuing entrepreneurial success. She emphasized, “They’re hustling.”
Do you agree?
