‘Walking Dead’ actor decries body shamers

Body shaming plagues many people, especially on social networks where trolls hide behind the anonymity that the Internet inherently provides. From taking digs at pictures of people working out to commenting harshly on photos on social media channels, body shaming has known detrimental effects on people often struggling with their own weight and self-confidence issues.

When such an interaction happened recently with Alanna Masterson, the actor who plays Tara Chambler in the popular horror/survival TV show The Walking Dead, she didn’t take it passively. In an Instagram post she put out following the episode, Masterson shed light on the issue of body shaming by stating that it isn’t okay to make fun of people or to comment on their weight. Aimed at her anonymous attacker, she posted, “Dear Instagram trolls, body shamers, and the men and woman who think it’s ok to comment on my weight: I hope that you don’t have children. And if you do, I hope you teach them about kindness and acceptance. I hope they learn that it isn’t ok to make fun of people or call people names. I hope one day YOU learn what it takes to be a parent. A kind, selfless parent. A working parent. A parent that puts themselves in someone else’s shoes. Maybe you can’t get it through your thick f***ing skull, but nursing a baby for a year (and pumping in a van between takes, in the dead of summer in Georgia) is a lot of work, determination, and scheduling. So before you decide to make a comment about my chest being “too large” or how “fat” I’ve become, just know that this little girl got the best start to life. I wouldn’t have changed it for a second. I would’ve gladly continued to eat enough calories to produce milk for her little bones to grow. Also, grow the f*** up. Your mother should be ashamed for raising such a judgmental bully. I’m sure she knows how ‘courageous’ you must be for trolling and hiding behind your Iphone and computers. P.s. I would LOVE to see any man or woman give birth to a baby, nurse the baby, and then work 17 hour days and NAIL their own stunts. P.s.s. Be kind to each other. We need it now more than ever.”

Many other users rose up in support of her, retweeting her story and sharing her original Instagram post.

Twitter trail

Alanna Masterson@AlannaMasterson: If I can make anyone out there feel 10% better about themselves, I’ve done my job. Don’t let anyone put u down. You are unique & I SEE YOU.

Rhiannon Nelson @rhiannon667: I honestly can’t imagine working that many hours and breastfed and pumping. Wonder freakin woman!

James Frazier @popatic: Good for @AlannaMasterson for hitting back! Stupid people! At WSC, we have a ZERO tolerance policy on body-shaming

kayleigh @suggrimes: @AlannaMasterson your instagram post was beautiful, im so proud to say you’re someone that i look up to x