Actress and television personality Emily Atack has found herself at the centre of a heated online debate after sharing a festive carousel of photos on Instagram. The 36-year-old star's Christmas snapshots prompted a flurry of comments, with some followers accusing her of using weight-loss injections, while many others rushed to her defence.
Festive Snaps Fuel Online Speculation
The I'm a Celebrity alum posted a series of images captioned, 'Christmas- a small selection of some fave outfits and beautifully busy tables that give me heartburn just looking at them.' The photos showcased Atack in a variety of chic ensembles, including skinny jeans and a stylish black leather dress paired with a colourful shrug. The carousel also featured glimpses of her holiday feasts and pub outings with friends.
However, the comments section quickly diverted from festive cheer to unsolicited commentary on her physique. Several users directly suggested she had turned to pharmaceutical weight-loss aids, with remarks such as 'Skinny jabs are jabbing' and 'on the jabs? Looks good tho.' Others specifically named medication, asking 'Are you on Mounjaro?'
Fans and Famous Friends Rally in Defence
The accusations did not go unchallenged. A significant number of fans expressed their frustration with the public scrutiny of women's bodies. One supporter pointedly asked, 'These comments! Aren't we over talking about women's bodies?' Another added, 'The thing is, women can't win. We are either too fat or too skinny... her size or any woman's size is not for public comment. Let's just say she is stunning.'
Comedian and friend Katherine Ryan also showed her support, commenting simply 'GIRL' alongside a string of fire emojis. The debate highlighted the persistent and often toxic focus on female celebrities' appearances, particularly after life events like pregnancy.
A History of Body Commentary and Post-Baby Pressure
This incident is not an isolated one for Atack. The actress, who welcomed her first child, a son named Barney, with scientist fiancé Alistair Garner in June 2024, has spoken openly about the pressure on new mothers to 'bounce back'. In a November 2024 interview on Jamie Laing's Great Company podcast, she revealed the immediate questions she faced about her weight post-birth.
'You get home and the first thing people say to you is, when are you going to get back in the gym?' she shared. 'I've just created a human, I am exhausted!... Where's the congratulations for being a mother? Instead it's when are you going to get the baby weight off.' Atack stated she had chosen not to rush back to the gym, focusing instead on enjoying motherhood.
Her experience with public body scrutiny dates back to her breakout role in The Inbetweeners, where she was unexpectedly labelled 'curvy' despite being a size eight. She has consistently maintained she has a healthy relationship with food and exercise, never dieting in response to criticism.
A representative for Emily Atack was contacted by the Daily Mail for comment regarding the recent social media reaction. The star is currently engaged to Alistair Garner, a childhood family friend she has known for nearly three decades.
