Kelly Osbourne Opens Up About Body Shaming, Mental Health, and Motherhood
Kelly Osbourne, daughter of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne and television personality Sharon Osbourne, has long been in the public eye. From her early days on reality TV to her battles with addiction and her journey to motherhood, Osbourne’s life has been intensely scrutinized. Recently, she shared her experiences with body shaming and its profound impact on her mental health at the Inaugural Beacher Vitality Happy & Healthy Summit in Los Angeles.
Osbourne revealed that she has faced more criticism for her weight than for any other aspect of her life, including her struggles with substance abuse. "I have been a drug addict, an alcoholic… I’ve been a complete mess, disrespectful to people, horrible – but I got more s— for being fat than I did for anything else. It’s insane," she said, highlighting the pervasive fat-phobia that exists in society.
She described the backhanded comments she often received, particularly when she was heavier. People would say, "You’re so pretty. Why don’t you just lose a little bit of weight, and then you’ll be the total package?" These remarks, while seemingly complimentary, reinforced the idea that her worth was tied to her physical appearance.
Osbourne has been candid about her weight loss journey, explaining that she tried various methods, including surgery, medication, diet, and exercise. However, she found that true transformation began when she addressed her mental health. "I got my mind where I needed it to be, and everything started to fall into place," she said.
She emphasized that weight loss is not simply about changing one’s diet and exercise routine. "You have to change your brain. You have to come to peace and acceptance about where you are in your life before you can start," Osbourne explained. She acknowledged that confronting her mental health struggles was crucial in achieving lasting change.
In 2020, Osbourne revealed that she underwent gastric sleeve surgery, calling it "the best thing I have ever done." However, she clarified that surgery is not a quick fix and requires ongoing effort. "The kind of surgery I had… if you don’t work out, and you don’t eat right, you gain weight," she said. She also emphasized the importance of therapy in preparing for surgery, as it helps address emotional eating and addiction issues.
Osbourne’s journey to motherhood also brought its own challenges. She spoke about hiding for nine months of her pregnancy with her father, Ozzy, to avoid public scrutiny. "I literally sat with my dad for nine months in a house, and I had the best pregnancy ever," she said. However, she was also terrified of being body-shamed during her pregnancy.
"I have been body-shamed since I was 14, 15 by the media," Osbourne explained. "I was known as Ozzy’s chubby daughter. They’d always comment about my body and the way I looked." She expressed frustration at being penalized for not fitting the traditional mold of beauty.
Osbourne emphasized the importance of self-acceptance and recognizing that other people’s opinions are not a reflection of one’s worth. "It’s one of those things where I am totally fine with the way that I look and am happy with myself and how I am as a person, but other people aren’t. And that’s on them. It’s not on me," she said.
She also spoke out against online bullying and the harmful impact of social media comments. "People need to realize that we are responsible for our words," Osbourne said. "Just because you’re behind a keyboard doesn’t make it OK." She called for more regulations to protect individuals from online harassment.
Osbourne acknowledged that while she tries to ignore negative comments, they can still affect her. "I won’t lie and say there aren’t some days when I’m just like, ‘Holy f—, that is mean,’" she said. She emphasized the importance of focusing on the positive and not letting negativity derail one’s day, week, or month.
During her third trimester, Osbourne was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. She managed the condition by reducing her intake of processed sugar and dealing with symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, and ankle swelling.
Osbourne also discussed her decision to hide during her pregnancy, drawing parallels to the body shaming that Jessica Simpson faced during her pregnancies. "I hid for nine months when I was pregnant because I didn’t want what they did to Jessica Simpson when she was pregnant [to happen to me]," she said. "I think it was disgusting," she added.
Osbourne praised Rihanna for challenging traditional pregnancy style norms and embracing her changing body. "Rihanna changed the pregnancy style game in such a magical way," she said. "I think what she did was incredible, but not every girl is Rihanna," Osbourne added.
She admitted to feeling pressure to lose weight after giving birth. "I definitely felt the pressure [to lose weight after giving birth]. And I 100% caved into losing the baby weight. I’m happy I lost it, but it was because I didn’t want to be picked on," Osbourne explained.
Osbourne’s story is a powerful reminder of the damaging effects of body shaming and the importance of prioritizing mental health. By sharing her experiences, she hopes to inspire others to embrace self-acceptance, challenge societal beauty standards, and advocate for a more compassionate and inclusive world. Her journey highlights the need for greater awareness and understanding of the complexities of weight, body image, and mental well-being.
