Australian comedy powerhouse Celeste Barber has publicly eviscerated the UK edition of Woman's Weekly magazine for what she deems an 'absolutely ridiculous' and heavy-handed photoshop job on her recent cover feature.
The viral sensation, renowned for her hilarious and authentic parody shots of celebrities, took to her Instagram platform to expose the drastic digital alterations made to her appearance. Barber shared a side-by-side comparison, starkly contrasting the raw, unedited image she approved with the final, glossy magazine cover that hit the newsstands.
'This is the photo I approved vs what went to print,' Barber captioned her post, her frustration palpable. 'My god. It's absolutely ridiculous. I don't look like that and I never will.'
The comedian pointed out the magazine's hypocrisy, highlighting the stark difference between the publication's public ethos and its behind-the-scenes actions. 'There's a big conversation around my cares [sic] about women feeling great about themselves but then you go and do this?' she questioned, calling the move 'f***ing stupid.'
The altered image presented a significantly slimmer waist, smoothed skin texture, and a general airbrushing that stripped away Barber's signature relatable and real aesthetic. Her legions of fans flooded the comments with support, applauding her for calling out the pervasive and damaging practice of digital manipulation in the media.
This incident has ignited a fresh wave of debate surrounding unrealistic beauty standards, authenticity in publishing, and the pressure placed on women in the public eye. Barber's defiant stance serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of body positivity and holding major publications accountable.
