Lili Reinhart Talks Body Representation On Riverdale: 'Not Everyone On This Show Is Perfectly Chiseled'

Riverdale star Lili Reinhart understands the significance of body representation on TV. And soon after being criticized on Twitter yesterday (February 6) for "contributing to unrealistic body expectations" by merely being segment of the cast, the 23-year-old actor addressed the critic head on.


It all began as soon as someone tweeted (and later deleted) a message to Reinhart suggesting that the hit CW series could have serious repercussions on young people and what they think of their bodies. "Just curious. Why is each and every person on Riverdale a 25+ year old portraying a teenager with flawlessly chiseled bodies?" They wrote. "Don't you think TV shows like this aimed at teenagers are contributing to unrealistic body expectations [and] body image issues?"


Reinhart was quick to respond, pointing out first and foremost that not each person in the cast looks the way the critic described. "Actually, not each person on this show is flawlessly chiseled," she wrote, admitting that even she feels "intimidated by the physique" of some of her cast mates, particularly while doing scenes in her bra and underwear. And due to the "expectation that people have for females on TV," Reinhart mentioned that she herself has felt very "insecure."


Despite her insecurities, Reinhart's learned to accept her body the way it is. "I have come to terms with my body and that I'm not the sort of person you would visualize walking on a runway throughout style week," she mentioned. "I have bigger boobs, I have cellulite on my thighs/butt, and my belly sticks out rather than curves in." And while body image has been an ongoing struggle for her, Reinhart mentioned it definitely doesn't help that she's constantly being "compared to other women."


"I have gained weight due to depression the last two months and I've felt very insecure about it," Reinhart continued. And though she felt self-conscious, she proceeded to do a bra and underwear scene anyway, calling it her "obligation." "[I] felt it was my obligation to be strong and show confidence in myself, looking as I do," Reinhart explained. "And I want other young ladies to be able to see my body on tv and feel comfort in the fact that I'm not a size 0. And I'm not a brilliant hourglass shape."


But Reinhart also acknowledged that she's not the only actor attempting to bring more body representation to the small screen. "This industry struggles with accurate representation of female and male bodies," she mentioned. "So I commend the females who have helped our industry take a step in the correct ~and authentic~ direction."