The Grammy winner urged people to “remember you are looking at someone’s child” before “you speak about someone’s body”
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NEED TO KNOW
- Brandy is speaking out against body-shaming
- In a July 11 Instagram post, the Grammy winner urged people to “remember you are looking at someone’s child” before “you speak about someone’s body”
- The R&B star has recently returned to the spotlight with a memoir, public performances and a Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Brandy is speaking out against body-shaming.
On Saturday, July 11, the Grammy-winning singer — who has stepped back into the spotlight in recent months — shared a lengthy message on Instagram, urging her followers to be “gentler with one another.”
“I’ve learned that it takes only a moment to form an opinion about someone’s appearance, and a lifetime to understand what they’ve lived through,” Brandy, 47, wrote in part, alongside photos of herself posing for the camera as she wore a glamorous, all-gold look.
“So may we become gentler with one another. Not because everyone is fragile, but because everyone is carrying a story we cannot see,” the singer, born Brandy Norwood, continued.
“Before you speak about someone’s body, before you speak about someone’s face, before you decide who they are by what you see, remember, you are looking at someone’s child. Someone’s friend. Someone’s dream. Someone’s life. A soul. And souls have always been more beautiful than surfaces,” Brandy concluded.
Credit: Josh Brasted/Getty
The ultra-private singer — beloved for ‘90s and ‘00s hits like “The Boy Is Mine” and “Have You Ever?” as well as starring roles on Moesha and in Disney’s 1997 live-action Cinderella opposite her idol Whitney Houston — has made a public comeback in recent months after several years spent mostly outside the spotlight.
In March, she stepped out in Los Angeles to receive her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Later that month, she released her new memoir, Phases, which delves into some of the most talked-about behind-the-scenes action — including her drama with Monica, dating Wanya Morris at 16 when he was in his early 20s and battling an eating disorder as a teen.
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“I allowed myself the space to be fearless and vulnerable,” Brandy said in March about the process of writing her book.
The star — who shares daughter Sy’Rai Smith with Robert “Big Bert” Smith — has made several other public appearances over the past several months.
On the Fourth of July, she stepped out for a performance in New Orleans at the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture, and in February she performed a stunning rendition of the U.S. national anthem alongside June’s Diary at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
Brandy also made headlines in October 2025 when she left the stage mid-performance and ended her concert with Monica, 45, early during the Chicago stop of the pair’s The Boy Is Mine Tour.
She spoke out about the moment soon after in an Instagram post, thanking fans for their support and sharing that she felt faint during her performance.
“I sincerely apologize for the abrupt end to last night’s performance in Chicago. After weeks of nonstop rehearsals, last night I experienced dehydration and feelings of wanting to faint. Everyone involved agreed that prioritizing my well-being was of the utmost importance,” she continued.
“I still made the decision to try and return and give it my all despite not feeling okay,” Brandy added. “With having to make some adjustments and the show being very technical, unfortunately, it was impossible to fully connect sonically with the production. I really appreciate everyone’s best efforts.”
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