About Renee Zellweger’s New Face, Our Shock, and Folks Telling Us to STFU
A woman got on the red carpet the other day, looking vaguely familiar. Or like the cousin of Robin Wright and Sarah Jessica Parker. Wait. WAYMENT. That’s Renee Zellweger! Shut my mouth wide open! WUT? What happened to her face? I mean, that’s kinda rhetorical because we know it’s plastic surgery but what HAPPENED? How much surgery did she get? Why goes she look so unlike herself? When did this happen? I haz so many questions and I am not the only one who does.
The whole interwebs has been marveling at Renee’s new look for the past day, because she looks unrecognizable. Folks have asked for extra receipts to really prove it’s her. What happened to the squinty-eyed, round-faced adorabo actress we all knew? Now she’s all copy and paste face white woman who was created from a mating session betwixt Robin Wright, Sarah Jessica Parker and possibly a dash of Helen Hunt.
Some folks (read: mostly white women) are really kind of outraged at our shock from Renee’s new face. We are being told to STFU and “stop attacking” her and to leave her alone. I am here to tell those people to have a gahtdamb seat. Because: reasons. Let’s talk about them.
In the discussions I’ve seen on Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere, I haven’t seen many people say that Renee Zellweger looks BAD. Everyone says she looks different. People are saying that she’s lost what really made her stand out, and she’s Jennifer Greyed herself. Remember Jennifer? The lady from Dirty Dancing who got her nose done and it made her look so different that she lost jobs because folks didn’t recognize her in auditions.
I have seen very few comments from people calling her ugly or terrible or Quasimodo. The overall sentiment has been of the “HARPO, WHO DIS WOMAN?” variety. Who knew that wondering why she would do something so drastic was an “attack?” In all the convos I’ve had with grounded, non-evil people, no one has said anything hateful about her.
People are talmbout WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT HER FACE? IT’S HER FACE. The same reason we cared why Rihanna wore beaded curtains to that event. Or why Marilyn Manson looked like he haunts our hopes and dreams. We need fodder and levity.
And she’s a celebrity who showed up to a red carpet where 50 cameras were to capture what she looked like. I am not losing sleep because Renee Zellweger has a new face. I slept wonderfully last night. What cuts her face doesn’t make mine hurt. What she eats doesn’t make me burp. But I will certainly talk about it.
We know society is hyper-critical of women’s bodies but does that mean we cannot point out when someone does something absurd? And yes, I find it strange when someone completely and permanently changes their reflection in the mirror for purely cosmetic reasons.
Hollywood does a THING on body image and I am not anti-plastic surgery, because hey sure go get a little botox here. And a tummy tuckapalooza. Maybe even a small nose job. Breast implants 1 and 2 cups up? FINE. What I am against is extreme surgery that makes you look like you might be hiding from the mafia since you are so far from where you started. People shaving their chins, and getting cheek implants. It’s a lot!
Does it make me a bad feminist to say “hey, I liked your old face. I wish you kept it?” If it does, then oh well. If feminism means we cannot challenge the choices other women make, then I pretty much suck at it (because I judge everyone equally. You’re welcome, world!). My form of feminism is the belief that woman can live on their own terms but I don’t think it means we’re above critique. Just as I don’t think Renee getting a new face makes her any less of a feminist, neither do I think people questioning her makes THEM traitors to the Love Pocket Land.
And while we’re at it, I’ve never seen this many people or even a fraction of people defend Lil Kim when we drag her all up and down and diagonal for cutting up her face.
As many times as I’ve gone in on Miss Jones and called her an Asian Mermaid, there is nary a peep from someone telling me to respect her right to look like whatever she wants. Let me guess… is Lil Kim the one who crossed the line? Oh ok.
Same thing with Nicki Minaj. How many “Leave Nicki Minaj alone and respect her body’s agency” thinkpieces can you find? And how many are written by white women? I’ll be here waiting (like Sonic the Hedgehog) for the answer.
Folks don’t even come to Kim Kardashian’s defense ever, and it’s funny because she tried to cut all the Armenian out her face but white people still don’t see her as one of them. She gets none of the privilege or protection. It’s almost like the more Black men she is paired with, the less love she gets. They totally “you can’t sit with us” her but that’s another topic for another day.
When the nudes of Jennifer Lawrence leaked, folks jumped to her rescue (rightfully), but I did wonder if Angela Bassett’s leaked, if she’d get the same enthusiastic defense. Because sometimes, white women are treated like Faberge eggs while the rest of us are like iPad 2s with the cases on them. *throws across the room* Oh it’ll be alright.
In a world that does a piss poor job of protecting women and keeping us safe, when it does choose to fight for women, it’s usually for white women only. The rest of us can go fend for ourselves because STRONG BLACK WOMAN and SPICY LATINA WOMAN are tropes used to dehumanize us, excusing the bad treatment we receive. Because we can handle it, right?
But NOOOO don’t come for the prototype of the Damsel in Distress. Don’t you dare criticize a white woman or the word “bullying” might get thrown at you real quick and everyone will run to play Captain-Save-A-She. Because at the intersection of racism and sexism is white woman privilege. And while some feel like they’re dismantling one system, they’re upholding another.
It is what compels many people to come to the rescue of someone that people are just pointing out looks different while someone else has been the butt of jokes for a decade and no one bats an eye in her honor. It’s the same privilege that allows a woman to write an essay for The Guardian, where she admits to stalking and harassing a blogger who she said trolled her, without fearing consequences (because she’s really well-connected). It’s the same thing that allows people to STFU when a woman of color is being harassed because “this is not my lane.”
So. Yes, I see the high level hypocrisy here and I scrunch my nose at it.
Apparently, we are all servants of the patriarchy by talking about how odd it is that Renee Zellweger pulled a FACE/OFF and now looks like Claire Underwood’s cousin twice removed. But these are the same people who write pieces about whether Beyonce’s a feminist just because she chooses to wear onesies. I don’t have time.
But we shouldn’t say nothing about Renee. We should ignore the giant pink elephant that is throwing glitter in the middle of the room. OK, girl. Thankfully, I’m an equal opportunity roaster. So it makes you feel better, I also think Kenny Rogers looks like the Ghost of You Should Have Left Your Face Alone Present.
He coulda totally been #OldBae had he just let himself age.
And there’s my post on CarrotTop looking like a Thundercat. TAKE THAT, SYSTEM.
And we are so glad you sit on the moral high ground so the rest of us can ki-ki down here and roast bad fashions and bad or unnecessary surgery. But if you’re up in arms about this, I hope you gather the same zeal for the next time everyone picks on Kim Kardashian or Nicki Minaj or even Lil Kim for their cosmetic decisions. Otherwise, you can drink some Simply STFU Orange Juice.
Kthx.
It is time to write that book. Come into The Book Academy and learn how to go from IDEA to INK.
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“Because at the intersection of racism and sexism is white woman privilege.” This is a word that needs a pulpit and proper collection plate support!
OK. I thought I was at a sermon when I read this. Wanted to jump up and make it rain on the alter of Luvvie told nothing but the truth and SHUT IT DOWN!!!!
“Because sometimes, white women are treated like Faberge eggs while the rest of us are like iPad 2s with the cases on them. *throws across the room* Oh it’ll be alright.
In a world that does a piss poor job of protecting women and keeping us safe, when it does choose to fight for women, it’s usually for white women only. The rest of us can go fend for ourselves because STRONG BLACK WOMAN and SPICY LATINA WOMAN are tropes used to dehumanize us, excusing the bad treatment we receive. Because we can handle it, right?”
You know? Luvvie shut it DOWN like Papa Pope, and gave white woman privilege the READ of LIFE that would make Joe Morton be like: “Dear White Folks, you have just been taken…by Command”
YASSSSSSSSSSS! @Luvvie!!!!!! This, for me, is as close to “The Sermon on the Mount”as anyone has come to in a while!!
Indeed!
This post is EVERYTHING!!!! Oprah, fabulous, necessary, vital. Renee made me sad to look at. Where is the self love? Crazy.
Thank you Luvvie!
Whoop there it is! The hypocrisy is hilarious. When i saw her face my initial thoughts were “what happen? Why it happen? Can it happen again?.
*waving my funeral home church fan at everything you said
I’m sorry if folk want to act like Renee and Lil Kim aren’t in the same bad idea boat, but this is ridiculous. I’m pretty sure Renee will have to show her state government issued ID every time she goes on an interview for the next year or so. Nobody knows who this lady is, and any #tbt pics she puts up will forever be suspect (unless they’re her before and after surgery stills). I’m pretty sure she gets scared every time she looks in the mirror and sees some strange lady looking back at her. I am not here for her game of “Guess Who I Used To Be,” nor can I understand what she was trying to “fix.”
This comment is EVERYTHING! Yasss hunty!
Woo Lawd! THIS….. all of this!
Yasssss! Say it again!
I praise danced and holla’d all through this here comment! My gigglin continues and I rebuke the devil in the name of the “Guess Who I Used To Be” game!
So done in… this is my ghost typin
I know what she was trying to fix: That cute little natural pucker face that magazine writers and various critics said made her look like she ate something sour. Now it’s gone, and people (generally speaking, not coming at the OP or comments) still have stuff to say, that poor woman. This is a textbook example of “damned if you do/damned if you don’t. I just hope she’s happy, but that face isgreeting her in the mirror every day, not me.
Guess who I used to be. Fix Her Jesus!
You.betta.tell ’em!! We can’t comment on Renee needing to head down to the dmv with 4 types of I.d. to change her license ’cause she look so different? Oh…ok. O_o
Damn, you did that. **slow claps**
What she said… ^^^ *slow claps* all day!
Um, this article couldn’t be more perfect. She looks so dadgum different that if she gave birth to a child, the doctor would ask her if it was hers.
I just laughed Fresca thru my nose at this^!
Preach!!!!!!!
Literally posted about this an hour ago. I was all like “how can she say her face looks COMPLETELY different cuz she ain’t tired anymore”. And in not in a good way. I don’t really care what celebs do to themselves, however, I will talk poorly about it like the rest of the world when it’s done bad.
ALL OF THIS!
They dragged Star Jones through the mud because she didn’t want to admit to her GP surgery, but we supposed to believe Renee just got some much needed sleep?
sleeping beauty aint had as much sleep as Renee is trying to make us believe she had.
and…
while i think its great she found her a ‘boo’, no offense, but he ain’t swinging it like that to make her face look like that…
LOL exactly what I said. Tomfoolery!
That write up gave me life but these comments took it away…. I love it all.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS HUNTY!!! I am for everything you gave in this post. This is exactly what I’m talmbout. I ain’t seen not nere piece of white folk come for anyone who has talked about Lil Kim’s metamorphosis into a plastic Chinese mermaid woman or even Iggy Azalea’s expanded ass from one video to the next. REALLY? Please have several seats in the whites only section of life. Renee looks crazy. I know her publicist had to tell the photographers who she was so they would know who to post about. I would have walked right past her like I had never seen her before.
Ok, so maybe I am slow but… it looks more to that instead of having plastic surgery, she stopped getting procedures done and this is what her face looks like now without all the enhancements. Maybe that younger look was the result of cosmetic procedures to stay up on the game, but now in her older age she doesn’t care anymore and is like “this is my real face”…
Or I could need another cup of coffee… who knows
Nah it looks like she got the fatty folds over the tops of her eyes removed. That why she no longer has that squinty expression.
aaahhh, that’s exactly what it is! I knew it was the eyes but was trying to figure out how they changed it to get rid of the squint. that makes perfect sense, especially since as you get older skin loses elasticity and maybe it didn’t look as charming as it used to. she still should’ve just left her face alone. she now just looks random and basic.
That’s it. I know a couple people with heavy upper eyelids, like renee’s, have had that surgery because with age they start to droop and block their sight. In both cases, it wasn’t vanity. It was the need to see. Comparing before and after pictures side by side, I honestly can’t see much difference other than the eyes and that her smile appears more relaxed. And that’s not due to a surgical procedure.
@Sim, that’s exactly what I thought when I saw the pic. Ah, she’s aged and isn’t trippin about covering that up.
Nothing about her face says plastic surgery. Her eyes, lips, nose and even eyebrows are the same. Maybe it’s drugs or alcohol. She just looks wayyyy older.
Ahem. You are tripping. Her eyes are the same?! Take a closer look.
We already have a Robin Wright. And we don’t need another Helen Hunt. Also, who’d really cut themselves to resemble SJP?!
LOVED this article! So well expressed.
Let me be the first to say I don’t care what she does with her face because the invoice is not sent to me.
BUT, as a fan of movies in which this is her profession, I feel I can comment. You see, when celebs, tv and movie people appear in areas I frequent on the web, print, and tv to promote their new venture which they want me to invest (my money and time), I can speak. Just as I will if the movie or tv is bad or good. Therefore I am thrust into the position of critic. And I shall do my job!
Amen!
And had the nerve to say she’s aging. So are many others and they don’t look like silk that got burned cause the iron was on the wrong setting! This is what she looks like at 45? helloooo, I’m 43 and have no lines! anywhere!!! Just stop. Olay to the world!
Well. Luvvie, I LOVES you! GIRL! I LOVES YOU! With all the love my little ol’ Canadian Black girl heart can handle. I love you like I love a good fried plantain on a Saturday morning.
That’s love, yuh hear?
THIS! I have to co-sign everything you just said. That Guardian article really confused me. I mean, I honestly had no idea who she was when I saw the pic and I am/was a fan! O_O
You had me at hello? But, who are you? lol
*Because at the intersection of racism and sexism is white woman privilege.*
This post is so on point!!
It really is.
I’m just sitting back smiling, saying, “Mm, hm.” You read the fool out of those folk, and I am holding my mug, and throwing my church lap kerchief in the air (you know the one with the lace so your ladyparts aren’t all on PBS for the world to see). Yes, Ms. Luvvie. You are all kinds of right, and I stand by you on this (and that Oprah gif is everything!). Bravo on this piece.
*insert Disney Hercules Muses singing “That’s the gospuhhhl truth”*
All the media need to stop playing and go ahead and admit that she got body-snatched, replaced, pod-person’ed…
had nary a clue who dis chick was. she made a mistake. and it’s her eyes, don’t know how, but she changed them. it’s sad. and I immediately thought of Jennifer Grey. Luvvie, as usually you are 110% on point!
It looks like she got the surgery some Asians get to their eyelid fold to make their eyes rounder ala Julie Chen on CBS.
Kierah you are absolutely right.
My first time commenting…just had to give you a round of applause for this one!
It irks me that we are to believe good food and rest changes your facial features. Who are you kidding? #DearWhitePeople
If good food and rest can change your looks that much I’m gonna go lay down for a while with some raw hamburger some wheat grass and smashed kale chips slathered all over my face and see if I wake up looking 27 instead if 57.
yesssssss! Let us know if that is, indeed, the fountain of youth! hahaha!
The thing about Kenny Rogers is the rationale he gives for having all that work done. Because he keeps “trading up,” he’s ended up with a wife who looks more like his daughter, and he wanted to “even things up.” I couldn’t. He’s that much older than she is and we all know it, so the plastic surgery was 100% superfluous. Even worse, he concedes that his face is fugged up now.
And his wife STILL looks like his daughter, so…oh, well, Kenny.
Why you mad? Renee stay winning. LOL.
Winning? She hasn’t had a movie in nearly 10 years. What is she winning, the no job prize?
@Milaxx…iLaughed
Cackled! I just cackled my ass off out loud on this one!
HA Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
Well, if My Own Love Song in 2010 was “…nearly 10 years…” ago, then you’re correct. Perhaps you were thinking 10 years since the last of the Bridget Jones movies, Bridget Jones:The Edge of Reason, which was released in 2004. Since then, she’s appeared in 10 movies & is currently filming in The Whole Truth, due for release next year.
Let this white woman add a big ol’ hell yes to this! I have to say, I don’t get trying to hold on to a 20 year old face when you are in your 60s but dang, I really can’t get making yourself unrecognizable. You know she can go visit her grandmomma in the nursing home cause she won’t get recognized and that’s sad. And you know folks are gonna talk about it!
Tell ’em again, Janice.
One of your best posts yet! Every word deserved an Amen
Whoooo!! You preaching and teaching today Sis Luvvie! I’m bout to lay $5 on the altar for that WORD. Halle-loo!!
We can do two things at the same time. 1. Remark, out loud, that a woman who has been famous for damn near 20 years has a whole new face while 2. Decrying the society and pressures that made her feel like that she had to go out and buy a new face.
All the years Lil Kim has been getting roasted, after the jokes we usually lament the clinically low self-esteem, lookism and colorism that made her want to transform her previously attractive face into an old Asian lady mask.
yes ma’am!
Me: It’s hard to grow old, especially in Hollywood. Jennifer Lawrence is what Renee Zellweger USED to be. But how do you tell Renee that?
My friend Candice: No one cares that she did it. We care that it’s bad. She has access to the best and she chose to get a Groupon for eye surgery.
Me: __/\__/\__/\_____/\______________________ FLATLINED.
“Groupon for eye surgery”
LMAO! That was totally uncalled for. I have now passed away from extreme mockage reaction syndrome. You are responsible for my passing ma’am.
Whats worse looks like she used Mickey Rourke’s surgeon to do it! Get better references!!!
@Kayla…tell Candace she ain’t sh*t! LMAO
Candice was wrong for that and if that is the best Groupon has to offer I’m canceling my subscription!!!!!
________________________i done died!!!! Screaming
Kayla dear, I hate you and Candice both!!! LMAOOOOOOOOOOO it is so deep!
The level and volume of laughter and snorting that just sprang from my lips and nasal passages is simply not ok. I am at work and will now have to explain why I seem to be unable to control my tourette-like outbursts of “Groupon Eye Surgeries”!!!
Is ya happy???
Tell Candice I quit her and the universe. Not the Groupon. No Mam! No she will not! Someone please call my DOA at 3:21pm.
Groupon for eye surgery? I am so DONE. BEST LINE EVER.
Groupon for eye surgery? I am so DONE. BEST LINE EVER.
You, my dear, and your sweet friend Candace…CONSIDER YOURSELF SERVED! My husband is about to sue for wrongful death because I am laughing to death!!! NOT GROUPON!!!!
hollerin!
Yes ma’am! Truth!
I’m a white woman and I was SHOCKED at how crazy she looks. Everyone has the right to try and reverse the aging process but she looks like her own impersonator or like she is entering witness protection. Part of being a celebrity is being looked at and scrutinized. People need get a can of Raid for the bug up their ass and deal. I wonder how many photographers didn’t take her picture cuz they had no damn clue who she was.
“she looks like her own impersonator”…..HA!
“People need get a can of Raid for the bug up their ass and deal.”
Ma’am… Consider this phrase STOLEN!! Lolololol! #ThankYou 🙂
you better PREACH!!!! and that moonwalk gif from new girl was a perfect ending
So Michael Jackson can be picked on and Renee Zellweger can’t be. I say fair game.
Some people are just too sensitive, IMO. From what I’ve seen, most people aren’t calling her ugly or being mean. Everyone is just wondering who the heck she is, cuz she doesn’t look anything like the Renee Zellwegger we’ve seen over the years. I showed the side-by-side pic to my coworkers yesterday and they rebuked me for lying on Renee, until after careful scrutiny, one of them recognised her lips. I have no problem with a little nip here and a little tuck there, if it makes you happy (and it’s really none of my business), but I can still be alarmed that you look like a whole ‘nother person and express said alarm, thank you very much.
Wow, How racist is this article. You complain about white people standing up for their kind and not everyone else. Stand-up for yourself no one is stopping you. If you think Black woman need more support and uprising then do it! Don’t go getting all racist because your not standing up for your woman. The problem with society is people like you who make everything about color. A woman changes her face and all of a sudden it’s a race war, SICK.
So I see that you had totally Bill Bruckner the point of Luvvie’s article, huh?
In response to your response, Black women ALWAYS stand up for ourselves whenever another one of us has been denigrated or disrespected. Hayle, we’re even there when one of us is killed on doorsteps, when we are searching for help!
The problem is (which is the point that Luvvie made in this post… you know the thing that flew past your head) when it comes to “mainstream feminists” being our allies, they don’t even bother to answer our calls.
But, when they need extra voices for their rallies and campaigns, here they come begging.
Here is Renee’s response at eonline.com to people’s wonderment and befuddlement
http://ca.eonline.com/news/590665/renee-zellweger-explains-why-her-face-looks-different-people-don-t-know-me-in-my-40s
I agree completely agree with Luvvie, what she is saying is not racist, she is basically saying what everyone else is thinking, even the same white people (especially women) who are wondering what the he!! Renee has done, but are being all polite about it. She knows she looks like a completely different person, her whole bone structure has changed, how else is that possible without plastic surgery. She was lovely before and now we are all just confused (have seen Lara Flynn-Boyle recently, same thing).
If we were talking about a woman or even a man of ethnic race, the defence would be completely different, they would be the butt of jokes, for instance, we all wonder at Niki M’s butt because we know its not 100% natural, but white people like to pretend that Iggy’s fake behind is au naturel, and a gift from God, instead of the truth that she got it in surgery along with her fake urban rap voice, look at her earlier videos, she is as white as can be, but everyone ignores that she is just a Niki knock off.
Aaaaaaand so it begins. Point out an obvious truth about the glaring disparities in some people’s comments/treatment between POC and “the others” and out comes the “you’re racist” brigade. The nerve! *snort*
You may wish to explore classes for reading comprehension that I I’m certain are offered in your area. Because chile, there is NOTHING in your comment that has a thing to do with Luvvie’s post.
….And the spelling and syntax errors were blatant. Clueless, racist, And ignorant.
I PERSONALLY love when folks try to talk bad… Drag others down… With HAWRIBBLE grammar.
Baby… Get on somewhere…
You missed the point. But it’s ok. We are here to help you through.
Point: if shade (look it up) is going to be thrown and negative or indifferent comments made, let it be universal. Don’t attack one but defend/commend another on the same, exact thing.
As for standing up for our own…we do. And we will also call it out if it’s not right. Do you do the same?
And it’s not a race war. Just observations.
Have a nice day!
Dear lasvegasparalegal,
Here you go, have a whollllllle auditorium full of
\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
and when you are done, try re-reading this post (or have someone read it for you who can actually read) and ask yourself, is it the post that is “racist”, or is it you?
I am dying at Kenny Rodgers! He has such a huge fan base in Kenya and some people are trying to get him in concert… Nobody will recognize him… In fact I see tickets being returned because they tried to bring us a fake white guy instead of Kenny. Add to the fact that his audience is primarily older folks who don’t use internet as much so would not know about the change…
About Renee… Who’s got the offering basket? This right here is the Truf!
This post is everything I’ve been saying for the last 48 hours.
Amazing.
The third Bridget Jones movie has been delayed time and again. I think they said it was “script issues”.
I think it’s because producers are trying to figure out how to “sell” this brand new face.
It’s long been rumoured that Renee has had anxiety issues and body image issues (the yoyo dieting for Bridget Jones alone? C’mon!).
If this makes her happy. Fine. But don’t LIE and say no surgery was done!! Also, she may have just done eye surgery. That can dramatically alter a face. My friend’s mother did it and we stared at her for a week straight…
Because at the intersection of racism and sexism is white woman privilege
The entire line about, “Because sometimes, white women are treated like Faberge eggs while the rest of us are like iPad 2s with the cases on them. *throws across the room* Oh it’ll be alright.”, that did it for me. Because nothing could be truer. I mean, look at the whole Iggy Azalea and Snoop situation. Should he have been calling a female out of her name? No, of course not. But society STILL places white women on pedestals as if they are fragile and delicate and yadda yadda yadda, while women of color are apparently steel robots with only one emotion: anger. This is the same theory, IMO. And it is this mentality that keeps us at a disadvantage, in our careers, our relationships, amongst our friends. The idea of us being super women oftentimes damages us, and raises these white women up even higher, because they obviously need protection and tender care. And you know, we don’t. Awesome, awesome article. I know I went on a mini-rant for a second, but I loved everything you said! Kudos!
I loved this article and was hollering and loving it until we got to the part about why white women don’t stand up for Nicki and Kim. Lil Kim shouldn’t have been ripped on so hard because it seemed like she was changing her face to spite herself and that shit is sad, don’t kick people when they already eating the dirt. But Kim K is a gold digging nasty who is the sum of everything wrong on this planet and Nicki is a damn nightmare. I don’t know this Angela Bassett chick and everyone knows J-Law so that’s your answer there. I ain’t for a minute saying that white on white sympathy ain’t a thing that prevails on white girl feminist blogs but let’s remember to take this case by case.
*needle scratch*
How on earth do you NOT know Angela Bassett?
^^…this…!!!!! Out of all the comments (and I read all of them) this is the one that made me literally stop and say, out loud, “you don’t know who Angela Basset is???” iCan’t…
For real? Hello! Star of TINA TURNER biopic and countless other movies. kids today…
*LMBO* thought the same thing.
You don’t know who Angela Bassett is? Are you serious? You need several stadiums full of seats. And referring to her as “this chick?” #menditmessiah
Sexual Chocolate *drops mic and walks of stage*
I had a deep and meaningful comment and then you had to go Kenny Rogers and now I can’t stop laughing.
Oh! When they released those Jennifer Lawerence pics, they also released a bunch of Jill Scott. How many people talked about that?
RIGHT.
Amen sis
Yes! ALL OF THIS!!!!
and Megan Goode.
*Luvvie shoots for three and she SCORES!!* Ball game!!! Who has the court next!?
Thank you!!! That read was needed!!! They all need to take several seats waaaay over there. You can’t pick and choose Silly Rabbits.
I don’t understand why black feminists still get mad at white women when they show that they don’t see you as their equal. They don’t and they never will, so why expect it or even let it bother you? This is why we have to care more about our own women and men, because we cannot and should not expect for anyone else to care. IMO, this is why identifying and unifying with those in your race is more important that the whole feminist thing, because at the end of the day, a black man or woman will defend you before a white woman does.
Shelly, I was *this* close to asking for your hand in marriage just now. Spot on!!
LOL
So if Renee’s logic applies, after a salad, a good roll in the hay, and a nice nap, I’ll wake up looking like a completely different person? Maybe she just wanted to be Sarah Jessica Parker for Halloween.
_____________FLATLINED________I thought the same thing when I first saw the picture.
::slow clap::
Speak on, sister. And hear, hear!
Does she look different? Yes.
Am I bothered that people pointed it out? Nah.
Can we stop talking about it 2 days later? Absolutely.
My issue is not that folks brought it up but that we continue talking about it for days like it’s real news. It’s not. It’s buzzworthy gossip and that’s about it. I doubt we can tell the difference anymore.
I always enjoy your posts but I didn’t make the racial connections you made with this situation. There are plenty of other examples for us to chew on in society that hold much more weight than Renee’s face, no pun intended there. I too said the exact same thing about her looking like SJP and Robin Wright so I’m not innocent here (lol0 but I think those coming to her defense are doing so because with all going on in the world these days this matter seems silly to harp on. Not to comment on, but to belabor. Twitter is an internet bullying platform, one that I cannot deny enjoying from time to time… #askRKelly, #askRobinThicke, etc. But it gets to a point sometimes where it’s just plain cray. Make the comment, notice that yes another celebrity changed their entire face (SHOCKING!) and move on.
Just my opinion…
This is why I love you (no homo) 🙂
The gif at the end put it over the top. Luvvie never fails to amaze me.
I won’t hide, I was tired of the nonsense about her looks too. I tweeted that she is older, looks more tanned and is happy…so what’s the big deal?! She looks hella different yes. I know bout her cause I love her work. Haven’t “seen” her in like forever so…..! But what’s the point of getting all bent out of shape. But Luvvie, you bring up some good points and I have to say Yessss, once again, you PREACHED! (and I shared your article on Twitter) All’s fair nuh!
I whole heatedly aggree!
This is also why Kayne will NEVER be out of that Taylor Swift debacle’s shadow. He broke rule #1: Thou shall not “threaten” the precious one of society- the blond white woman.
Cosign on this. People talk about Gabby and her man. Selma Hayek had a kid by her married billion lover several years before he got his divorce and married her. Double standard plus money.
We talk cause we are shallow. We are equal opportunity cracklers. I thought it was a refreshed Robin Wright who I looked up & she is aging nicely, BTW.
This post touches on something that has been weighing on my heart for months now.
I’m sick and tired of this modern, hipster feminism. These women think they’re so progressive and intelligent and educated, when they’re really nothing more than a bunch of Joan Snows. These are the same women who will argue that sex work and mainstream porn are empowering to women because Stoya told them so; never mind that for every Stoya out there, there are literally hundreds of women being abused, exploited and taken advantage of during the lowest point of their lives.
I’m tired of minority issues only being taken on when it suits them and when it’s popular. When it would add to their street cred as ‘enlightened woman who cares about the issues’, but when it comes time for rubber to meet the road they’re gone. This point was made abundantly clear to me last year. A popular feminist blog (no matter how much they try to deny it) spent the year doing excellent reporting on Stubenville, Roman Polanski and Woody Allen, only to turn around and give R. Kelly’s ‘Black Panties’ album a glowing endorsement. And they didn’t bother to correct themselves until The Village Voice called them out on it.
And this is idea of supporting everything a woman does, just because she’s a woman is Bull’s Sheet. If I don’t agree with it, I’m going to talk about it. Funny enough, these same people will (rightfully) drag Sarah Palin to hell because she doesn’t share their views. Where’s the camaraderie there, sisters?
All that to say, I enjoyed this blog post. I was nodding like a bobble head doll on a bumpy road.
The amount of truth on this!!!
This right here………What cuts her face doesn’t make mine hurt. What she eats doesn’t make me burp. But I will certainly talk about it………
I still don’t believe that other person is Rene Z……..she looks totally different…….even Michael Jackson didn’t cut that deep!
Give credence to the phrase “she’ll never work in Hollywood again!” I sure hope she invested her money well because she is going to need something to fall back on!
Lemme go eat a great dinner and get some rest so that I can wake up looking like Hallie!
Daily reader, infrequent commenter here. This post was the giver of life. I saw a couple of articles about Renee Z, (who looks like her own second cousin twice removed), but I was not aware of the backlash we (as in us) from stating the obvious. This whole #solidarityisforwhitewomen hissy fit white feminist throw when they are not treated like Faberge eggs (oh the irony!) is old and annoying.
ALL OF THIS!!!! I thought I was the only one scratching my head wondering where our help cometh from (cuz it seems only from the Lord)…white people really don’t believe that they have a privilege in this country but look at all the media examples that debunk that theory! I have seen all people of all races GO on Nicki, Mariah, Michael, Lil’ Kim, etc, but the second we talk about Renee? All of a sudden we are no longer feminists…what a bunch of bull!
I am an equal opportunity offender, and I will continue to be as such. And Renee, boo, you ain’t gotta lie to kick it. Everyone in Hollywood gets work done these days. All you had to say was you got a couple of knives hitting those hot spots and I guarantee you this wouldn’t have even been an issue.
Fucking all of this…call them white ~feminists tf out, man! They stay picking and choosing which causes and ppl they wanna stand up for, and that usually never includes woc, smdh.
They gon have to cancel that last Bridget Jones movie, lbr
What a shock…the race card! You’ll grasp at anything to pull that out won’t you? Maybe people are telling you to stfu because you sound like a hating bitch. Just like the people who criticized lil kim sounded like. Who needs personal responsibility these days wheb you can just claim some bullshit race factor. Get the fuck over yourself.
GFY, you seem mad. Are you mad? Did this hurt? Need some salve? You seem like this struck a cord with you seem you want to be the “why do you need to drop the race card” police. She “dropped” it because it was an apt observation that in moments like this WOC are basically treated less than compared to our White counterparts. She gave you receipts, she gave you facts, she set it the fuck out for you but still… you are mad. You wanna juicy juice and a cookie because your whinying hangry ass needs to go have a sit. #Blessyourheart
Its pretty simple actually. If black people defend other black people that is praised and applauded. If a white person defends a white person it some how is rooted to the feeling of white woman privilege. Its so pathetic that you constantly spin every issue so that you are never responsible for your own actions. If someone calls you out on something guess what? Its not necessarily your skin color….you could simply be acting like an asshole. Ps. Love the fact that people are taking the time to intentionally misspell words to show they are speaking in ebonics…priceless.
You are really cranking on all cylinders when it comes to offering up the typical, tired-ass, knee-jerk, “defensive white person” go-to responses. First,”you’re pulling the race card!” Next customer. When you get shut down on that one, then it’s “Oh, you’re using Ebonics.” And??? Nice try/not really. Don’t hate because a) you don’t have the mental capacity to understand what we talmbout and b) you can’t code-switch like we can. Woo-woo!
Ooooh, ooh! Lemme guess: your next reply is gonna be how people who call out racist bullsh*t are the REAL racists, right?
Stop reading Luvvie’s posts. See how easy it is to fix your issues?
What gemsmom said.
indeed. simple fix.
It’s funny how some ppl get up in their feels talmbout pulling the race card as if there isn’t an issue about race in society. <.< There are countless examples to give that white women do get treated differently, which I think is bull. Feminism is about equalism, if you are going to defend Renee, go defend Kim K, Lil Kim, Nicki and all the others too. And when you say someone look 'different', you're a hating bitch? Oh okay.. o__O When it's women criticising women, it's always, they're hating, they're just jealous, they wanna be like her and other silly arguments like that. Really? C'mon now.. I don't think women should hate on each other, we all need every bit of love we can get and give to each other. But that doesn't exclude any of us from getting criticised or being talked about. And why should it? We got every right to do so without being called a jealous or hating bitch.
And when there is anything negative said about a person of color its always “its cuz he/she is black”. Sorry but things like this don’t only work in your favor. You simply feel that you can say and do whatever you please and just yell “racist” when someone disagrees with you. Cant imagine having that sense of entitlement.
Imma need you to go on the road and preach this. For realsies. I’ll drive, you bring the snacks.
What started as a humorous observation ended as a rant of epic proportions and I do hereby salute you Ma’am. Especially for this line right here “Because sometimes, white women are treated like Faberge eggs while the rest of us are like iPad 2s with the cases on them. *throws across the room* Oh it’ll be alright.”
EPICALLY BRILLIANT Mz Societal Observer
Amen to all of that.
OAN, are we really gon’ sit here and pretend Luvvie didn’t just utter Kenny Rogers and equal opportunity roaster in the same breath? I’m still laughing at the irony.
Listen, this connection is regional knowledge. I don’t think I knew anything about Kenny Rogers and food until a few years ago because we didn’t have that in my neck of the woods.
But cackle on Nicole, cackle on.
I didn’t even realize that until your comment Nicole. HILARIOUS!!!
Brava! Brava! Brava!! *standing ovation*
this post, these comments…life. Thanks L!
DAMBIT…I QUIT’CHU!! I lost all of my intellectually astute composure at “Kenny Rogers looks like the Ghost of You Should Have Left Your Face Alone Present” and Carrot Top looking like a Thundercat. *calms*
I said the same thing though. It’s amazing what happens when you target a simple question at a white woman (and they get all “Angry Black Woman” on us) whilst, if we get even a “skanch” offended, we’re hostile. Yea, okay. A white woman’s face could be melting on my shoe, but I bet not ask whose got a Kleenex…or I’m insensitive to facially challenged people all over the world. *fights the air*
In a chat, all I said was that Renee now looks like Sarah Paulsen’s other head, and that when the fight started!
I was told that I am “cosmetic-surgery-shaming”; is that a “thing” now???
Good for you, for saying it like it is. Personally, I hate that ANYONE in the limelight, feels the need to change their face to feed the..masses? What they perceive is their public? Smacks of low self esteem. and there are a large amount of aging gracefully, very beautiful older women. Of all colors. Women seem to think that they need to try and look better as they age – um, hello, part of the grace of aging is being able to let it go! No need to impress people on how you look anymore, now you can focus on the wisdom you’ve gained. but whatever. As for little miss thang here, sorry, but she says she’s living better, blahblahblah..bullshit. She had something done to her upper half of her face. Now she looks like every other dime-a-dozen blonde bimbo B-movie actresses. Part of what made her endearing before was that she had a certain look, one some of us could relate to – the heavy eyelids, chubby cheeks, etc. Now. I could care less about her and any movie she might be in.
Also, just wanted to say..I didn’t even know Lil Kim had work done. If female celebs are getting stuff done, I have to say – the black women look WAY BETTER at it than the whites. Just saying. But I have the right to give them all equal crap for feeling like they needed to do that.
This post deserves some theme music. When the image of Renee was posted in a Facebook group I am a member of I honestly didn’t know who it was. I’m sorry, but I have the right to be dazed and confused when one of my favorite actresses goes MIA.
I’m not into shaming or being crass about folks decisions, but if we’re talking about feminism and such, shouldn’t we be glad that people are saying they loved Renee as she was? Isn’t that acceptance? Will I clown her every time I see her image from now on? No. It was her choice and she has to live with it. But… As a fan I am allowed to express my confusion over her choice. Also, you were right about how SOME women are shielded when others are left to be dragged.
And I just need to say, I LOVED this article. It enumerates the reason I am not a feminist…and while this could be a WHOLE NUTHER 1000 words, I’m making this short and sweet. White feminism does not and has never included us blacks and browns; it’s kept us just out of sight while we’ve waited for it to speak for us while speaking through “them”. Their agenda is so far removed from us as to be an analogy: feminism is to women of color as Rush Limbaugh is to Solomon Northrup.
I’m sharing your article with my daughter. We are not black feminists; we are womanists, as Alice Walker conceived. Luvvie, I think you are, too.♡
If people want to have their faces sliced and diced, fine, but own it. Joan Rivers talked all day about how much surgery she had. Patty Labelle said as soon as she got a little cash, she got a nose job. If you’re not going to own it, at least don’t talk about some love and a good night’s sleep refreshed you. Really? I’m her age, and I like to joke that having a drama-free husband is the key to not looking my age, but come on. Love and a daily nap can make that much of a difference? Eight hours can widen your eyes? J-Lo, Jennifer Anniston and Katherine Zeta-Jones are all the same age. If they’ve had work done, it’s done well enough that you don’t have to guess who they are.
You better go and tell it on the mountain Luvvie!!!! You get all the snaps and “yaaasss” b/c you did your thing!!! Now I may not agree with all of Lil Kim’s plastic surgery but you hit the hammer on the nail. Where in the hell are “Leave Kim Alone” articles…..I’ll wait. Now I for one didn’t see that much of huge difference but maybe b/c I didn’t care that much of what she looked like before. All I gotta say is I’m black and black don’t crack.
[…] Luvvie, About Renee Zellweger’s New Face, Our Shock, and Folks Telling Us to STFU, Awesomely Luvvi… […]
I read every word and my heart is singing!! But “ki-ki down here” stopped me in my tracks…
These comments? Woooooooo chile. I caint breathe! LOL. Witness protection program comes to mind.
The love I feel for all of this can not be contained in this world!!!!
This post is why we go together Luvvie!
” It’s the same privilege that allows a woman to write an essay for The Guardian, where she admits to stalking and harassing a blogger who she said trolled her, without fearing consequences (because she’s really well-connected). It’s the same thing that allows people to STFU when a woman of color is being harassed because “this is not my lane.””
Everything you wrote is spot on, but this part especially stuck out for me. I’m a writer and part of an online community with that author and when numerous people pointed this very thing out to her (myself included) we were called “bullies” and told to be “supportive.” Screw that noise. I’m a white woman, and I wholeheartedly agree and acknowledge that this type of behavior is something only a white woman could get away with. A woman of color would be called threatening. A white woman is being called “brave.”
There is nothing “brave” about stalking and it’s bullsh*t that she’s getting away with it because she’s a well-connected white woman.
Oh, and the community I mentioned? They deleted my comments and anyone else’s who dared to disagree with the general “oh, so brave” sentiment.
First time commenting. I just HAD to come in here and SLOW. CLAP! for this post. You are on point, indeed!
1. High five and Amen to this post.
2. I think Renee looks pretty though completely different.
3. I also thought she was pretty prior to the metamorphosis.
4. I see hints of Andie McDowell and Diane Sawyer…and Courtney Cox eyes.
THANK THANK YOU THANK YOU
OMG I am so tired of having to defend myself for simply asking WTF she did to her face and why. Thanks for spelling it all out.
You can’t get procedures to change your face and then cry foul when folks remark how your face is all changey changey.
How bout this…I’ll put Renee Zellweger in a house full of white ladies and we’ll play the “Renee Zellweger’s in the house, if you see her point her out” game and let’s see how quick your ass can point her out now.
The sad part is, she didn’t even get a lot of work done. She got a face lift, eyelid lift, and in her lips. Stuff most white women do at her age. But her looks were so distinctive that just, JUST those things changed everything! It pulled up her squinty eyelids and stretched the skin on her Jaden Smith furrowed brow. No more puffy baby faced Renee. BNow it’s this #StrangerBish
Here’s the other thing about RZ. Her eyes looked that way initially because of her Sami blood http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people on her Mom’s (Swedish/Sami) side. So. She had a little bit of ethnicity to her face that gave her a distinctive look. But, what she did was probably get a blepharoplasty and removed all traces of ethnicity from her face. She has genericized her face and in doing so she has removed the thing that made her look different. Girl, the rug really tied the room together. This tiny ass runner is doing nothing for the room. Or your face.
She looks like Jake now. Scott Foley jake
I was all like yea Luvvie tell it until you got to Mr Rogers. I died a little and I’m sure I bite my tongue. And can you send me a gallon of that juice please?
I luv you that’s all
Now that she removed the most distinctive feature of her face, her squinty eyes, she looks similar to another actress whose name I can’t remember. That said, I couldn’t care less how she changed herself. Her face, her choice.
Welp, loved the article 🙂
But I think the MAIN reason Renee’s face looks different is she is getting older, which is certainly preferably to the alternative for that!
Her skin in thinner and has lost elasticity. It is veiny and filled with fine lines. Her famous pout is gone because the fat in her cheeks has gone or dropped. She may have had work done to her eyes, but if her redddish pink skin were the same, I dont think people would be so aghast.
Also I think people are not really against plastic surgery or changes. They just comment when it goes awry. If anyone thinks Tom Cruise really looks 30 at 50 million years old, they are crazy too. Kenny Rodgers had a BAD plastic surgeon and thats why he gets blasted. And also because he looks a mess.
[…] Awesomely Luvvie wrote about the response to Renée Zellweger‘s new look, and it’s probably the only good thing anyone wrote about that: […]
It’s not that she looks horrible, per se–just real “Harpo, who dis woman???”
But wait….can we talk ’bout them eyebrows, tho? If she’s gonna change her face, I’ma need her to shape up & fill them joints in–STAT. As a certified “brow ‘ho,” I think those crack-ish caterpillars above her eyes bothered me more than her face change, lol.
And Luvvie, you nailed it on the head w/ the whole “white women treated like Fabrege eggs” thing. Exhibit B: The Iggy Azalea/Snoop Dogg beef. I seriously doubt there would be such an uproar over his comments if they’d been made towards a black female rapper. Nobody would care. But since it’s Iggy, suddenly everyone’s clutching pearls & whatnot. There’s no crying in hip-hop–last time I checked, you can’t come off as “hard” in the rap game but then turn & play the “poor white woman” card when another rapper comes for you. You gotta pick one, girl!
A week later and I had to come here and ask, where are Tiny’s supporters defending her right to change her eye color? They came out hard for Rene claiming it was her right to change her face and that race had nothing to do with it.
So again, where are Tiny’s defenders?
YES. AMEN. CO-SIGN EVVVERYTHING on this here above., Luvvie, ESPECIALLY THIS here part:
“…white women are treated like Faberge eggs while the rest of us are like iPad 2s with the cases on them… In a world that does a piss poor job of protecting women and keeping us safe, when it does choose to fight for women, it’s usually for white women only. The rest of us can go fend for ourselves because STRONG BLACK WOMAN and SPICY LATINA WOMAN …can handle it, right?”
If this ain’t the God’s TRUTH. I’m so OVER and TIRED of this double standard and SO GLAD you called it out.
Luuvvvvv thhhhiiiiiissssssss!!! And these comments. …… chile I’m WEAK!!!!!!!!
“sometimes, white women are treated like Faberge eggs while the rest of us are like iPad 2s with the cases on them. *throws across the room* Oh it’ll be alright.” Oh, cripes; I hafta go change my panties. Damn, that’s funny, and as a white girl, I’m really sorry it’s true, Luvvie. It really ought not be that way. And honestly, Kim Kardashian can’t sit at our table because she’s a low-life, not because of who she dates. I *swear*.
I was going to leave a comment applauding this piece. Then I remembered that I’m not a shallow, horrible person in need of assurance that that is a perfectly fine thing to be.
All I know is that if lots of sleep, healthy food and great sex was gonna give me a whole new face, I’d wait til I had committed a major crime first.
You are killing me! I’m seriously laughing so hard right now.
This is, perhaps, my favorite line I’ve ever read in a blog: “Now she’s all copy and paste face white woman who was created from a mating session betwixt Robin Wright, Sarah Jessica Parker and possibly a dash of Helen Hunt.”
I’ll be darned if I get what I call the Janice Dickinson face (which is also the Courtney Cox face and all the faces of the white women in the Real Housebitches of… series). They all look the same and they all look strange.
But I’m going to be shocked. Sure Rene and whoever can change themselves. Fine. But don’t be shocked when I’m shocked at just how much you’ve changed. That’s the only thing here. She’s just so different! It’s not necessarily bad. It’s not necessarily good. It’s just so freaking different.
“Some folks (read: mostly white women) are really kind of outraged at our shock from Renee’s new face. We are being told to STFU and “stop attacking” ”
Yes, stop attacking. Live and live live. Who cares what she does to her face? I don’t know her, I don’t have to look at her and I suspect neither do you. Also, how is this about race? What’s the link?
How would you feel if a white writer wrote about black women the way you write about white women? You write like you have a major chip on your shoulder. It’s sad…
what made Renee beautiful was the fact that she wasn’t really beautiful . She was a gutsy little actor that she allow the film Industry play her up as a bomb shell ….I never thought of her as a beauty type . But I still enjoyed her in the movies . Why does every woman let that beauty monster ruin them . ugly woman are Beautiful also ……And I mean that for real .
Two years later, and I am still confused. LEAVE YOUR FACE ALONE. And that goes for ALLLLL of you celebrities.
OR: “What happen? Why it happen? Can it happen again?”