John Whaite, winner of Great British Bake Off, has been outspoken on his social media about his struggle with bulimia.
Whaite – who is currently killing it on Strictly Come Dancing in the series’ first-ever male pairing – responded to comments he’s received branding him “just another muscle mary”. Posting to his Instagram account, the 32-year-old sounded off:
Since I started working out I’ve had so many messages from members of the gay community telling me how disappointed they are with me for becoming ‘yet another muscle Mary. I don’t work out so I can post pictures of myself on Instagram. I don’t work out because I feel having a muscular body shape makes me a better person. I work out because I am bulimic and because I have struggled with body dysmorphia since I was a little boy. Going to the gym is my way of keeping things under control. It allows me to feel like I have a small grip on the rudder of my life.
I also listen to classical music while I work out, so it gives me a little time to zone out of this very hectic world we all share.
But please, if you’re going to post platitudinal screenshots about being kind and caring, please put that into practice. You don’t know what any single one of us is going through.
If you feel the need to comment on someone else’s life, direct that energy inwards and focus on yourself. It’ll make you a better person.
What Whaite reminds us is that even those we perceive with “good bodies” can have their own struggles with image and body image, and that it’s not a celebrities responsibility to be relatable or make you feel ‘seen’.
Also, why would you be “disappointed” that somebody has worked on their body and gained muscle? He wasn’t gonna bang you either way, babe.
We do hope that John finds the help he needs to overcome bulimia, or at least sustain a healthy relationship with food.
Those in the UK struggling with an eating disorder can contact Beat. Those in the USA should speak to NEDA.