Millie Bobby Brown Said Sabrina Carpenter Offered Her Much Needed Advice Amid Media Backlash

While doing a press tour for her movie The Electric State, Millie Bobby Brown found herself facing an unprecedented amount of media criticism. The actor was excited for the press tour and opted for glamorous looks inspired by the film. When people responded poorly to them, Brown said she felt devastated. After tearing up about it at the Brit Awards, Brown said she got some much-needed advice from Sabrina Carpenter.

Millie Bobby Brown said Sabrina Carpenter gave her advice during a challenging time

The Electric State takes place in an alternate version of the 1990s. As a result, Brown wanted some ‘90s-inspired looks for the press tour. Taking inspiration from Pamela Anderson, Brown dyed her hair blonde and wore glamorous makeup looks. The reaction was not what she expected.

“Oh my God, what has she done with her face? Why has she gone blonde?” Brown recalled to Vogue. “She looks 60 years old!’”

Brown said that while she respects journalism and understands that the paparazzi is a part of her life, she didn’t like the insulting nature of the headlines about her.

“It is so wrong and it is bullying, especially to young girls who are new to this industry and are already questioning everything about it,” she said. 

After the press tour, Brown said she spent days crying and feeling depressed. While at the Brit Awards to present an award to Carpenter, she teared up.

“I was crying while I was getting my hair and make-up done,” she said. “I was even welling up when I saw her backstage.”

Carpenter hugged her and told her not to let the negativity get to her.

“Truly, always, her mentality is very much like ‘F*** ’em’, which I knew inside of me, but when you hear someone else say it, you’re like, ‘Yes! That’s it!’”

Millie Bobby Brown said Sabrina Carpenter’s advice changed her perspective

The day after her interaction with Carpenter, Brown recorded a video calling out journalists for their treatment of her. She felt this was necessary, not just for her but for any other young woman in the spotlight.

“If me being blonde or wearing more make-up really bothers you, I’m going to address it – not just for myself, but for every other girl who wants to try a new hairstyle or wear a red lip,” she said. “It’s, like, get off my f***ing case, you know? I am 21. I am going to have fun and play and be myself.”

She acknowledged that she couldn’t stop people from talking about her, but she wanted to respond with positivity.

“I can’t silence the 500 million people behind their phones,” she said. “So what is the realistic route here? I think it’s just uplift and empower young people. Can we fight back harder? Can we instill self-love and confidence into girls to be able to believe in themselves no matter what anyone says? That I can do. That I will do.”

She said dealing with media attention has always been difficult for her

Brown has grown up in the public eye, and media attention has been on her since childhood. She recalled a time when the paparazzi chased her into an elevator when she was just 13.

“I was really upset, and the flashing lights were everywhere, and it was really scary,” she said. “I remember after that being like, this feels really wrong and weird.”

Now, she feels that because people got to know her as a child, they expect her to stay that way. 

“For some reason people can’t seem to grow up with me,” she said. “Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time… And because I don’t, I’m now a target.”

When she isn’t promoting a project, Brown likes to stay out of the public eye on her farm in Georgia.