Lili Reinhart Reveals Male Director's 'Suck In' Stomach Instruction
Actress Lili Reinhart has publicly disclosed a troubling experience where a male director approached her before a shot and quietly instructed her to "suck in your stomach a little." The revelation came during a recent interview with the cast of her new film Forbidden Fruits, where Reinhart was asked if she had ever received an acting note that felt personally invasive.
Costars Offer Support Amid Industry Critique
During the Cosmopolitan interview, Reinhart's costars Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, and Alexandra Shipp immediately expressed solidarity, with Shipp even jokingly offering to place a "hex" on the unnamed director. Reinhart chose not to identify the individual, suggesting she didn't believe his "intentions were bad" and that he might have been trying to prevent her from later viewing footage and feeling self-conscious about an unflattering angle.
However, Alexandra Shipp countered this perspective, asserting that it is the responsibility of the director and director of photography to "find a flattering way to shoot you, not to make your body your problem." This exchange highlights ongoing tensions in the entertainment industry regarding body standards and professional conduct on set.
Reinhart's History of Body Image Struggles
This incident resonates with Reinhart's well-documented battles with body image and eating disorders. Last year, she revealed that she developed an eating disorder while filming the television series Riverdale, which concluded its seven-season run in 2023. Reinhart admitted to feeling "disassociated" during much of season six, with her inner dialogue overwhelmingly focused on bodily changes.
Reinhart has been vocal about her body dysmorphia, particularly regarding arm size. In September 2023, she took to social media to express frustration about the lack of "average-sized arms represented in mainstream media for women," noting that her body dysmorphia had been "going crazy" over this issue. She criticized the glamorization of "skinny arms" that she believes are unattainable for most adult women without extreme measures.
Calling Out Industry Toxicity
The actress has positioned herself as an outspoken critic of harmful beauty standards in Hollywood. She previously called out reality star Kim Kardashian for admitting to deliberate weight loss to fit into Marilyn Monroe's dress for the 2022 Met Gala, describing the admission as "so wrong" and damaging to millions of young women who look up to such figures.
Reinhart explained her motivation for such critiques, stating she speaks up "because I don't see enough people with large platforms calling out toxic behaviour in our industry." She emphasized that her comments are not attention-seeking but rather an attempt to address systemic issues affecting performers' mental health and self-perception.
New Film Context
The interview promoting Forbidden Fruits provided the backdrop for these revelations. Directed by Meredith Alloway, the horror-comedy follows a group of retail workers who operate a secret witch cult within a shopping mall, with tensions rising when a newcomer disrupts their dynamics. The film is currently showing in US cinemas, bringing Reinhart's experiences and advocacy back into public discussion as she promotes this latest project.
