Charlie O'Brien blog: Beyonce twins picture row
From the moment you get pregnant something weird happens - your body and your decisions become public property.
At 30 weeks pregnant I’m actually at the end of my tether with some of the comments I’m receiving about how 'huge' I am! (I’m not, I’m actually in the normal range.)
One of the comments on my Facebook page this week said...
“Are you sure there is only one baby in there as you are huge”
Just what every expectant mother needs to hear. Back off people – my baby, my bump.
Then on the other end of the spectrum is Beyoncé. She’s one of the most famous people in the world, is worth a whopping £290 million and isn’t nicknamed 'Queen Bee' for no reason.
So when she revealed the photo last week of her holding her month old twins – it’s nothing short of what I’d expect from a global superstar.
Yes it’s ostentatious, no it’s not 'real' and yes it probably IS edited. But seriously haters – give the woman a break!
Let’s address the hate Beyoncé and the photo has been receiving...
She’s just showing off: Yes, that’s her job. This is showbusiness darlings. A photo of Bee down her local Pizza Express, a twin slung over each shoulder with a frazzled Jay Z in the background fighting with Blue Ivy to finish her bolognaise, just wouldn’t quite cut it!
It’s not real: Who gets to decide what 'real' is? If two days after giving birth a woman wants a blow dry, a spray tan and fresh nails – good for her! Equally if it’s a case of greasy hair in a bun and joggers from the bottom of the washing pile – all power to her.
Which is right or wrong. I got slammed on social media for wearing make up one week post partum. Apparently I had my priorities wrong. Little did they know that I was severely anaemic, still in pain, suffering horrendous baby blues and struggling to breastfeed. A little mascara and blusher helped me to feel a bit more human.
The picture is edited: Hang on a sec, we ALL edit our photos. Instagram filters, Facebook filters, cropping, rotating, lightening up … I rest my case.
I believe in women. I believe in the power of women supporting women. And that means ALL women – not just the ones that fit with what WE believe in.
So let’s stop slamming Beyoncé – she’s a mum, like the rest of us.
Charlie x
