Adele’s still doing so much press for her 30 album release. I do not remember her doing this much when she released 25! I think it’s partly because she lives in America now and she’s more comfortable navigating PR and the media, plus (as she told Vogue) she was ready to have a proper comeback and be a “star” again. She’s older, she appreciates it more, and she enjoys her success. Adele covers the latest issue of The Face, and you can read the full interview here. She talks a lot about producers and what it was like completing the album during the pandemic. She also talks about her weight loss, and those are the quotes getting a lot of play. Adele lost more than 100 lbs over the course of, like, three years. Some highlights:
The industry has changed so much: “I think what’s happened is [since] I got signed, up until my last album came out [in 2015], the way the industry is has completely changed. There was still a record industry. There were still record companies, there were still A&Rs when I last released an album. What I do, and what I was doing, it was encouraged. There was a safety around it. I think, now, there’s, like, 300,000 songs released a week! Everyone’s worried that time’s going to run out. Their team is encouraging them to do everything now, now, now, just to make a mark. I’ve never been told to do that by anyone, I certainly wouldn’t do it if I was told to. That’s just not the way that artists I like move. I do feel incredibly lucky that I’ve only ever had a good experience in the music industry. I know that’s rare, especially for women.
The Instagram she posted where she wore Bantu knots: “There was so much going on in America at that point. I didn’t read the room and I f–king should have because I live in America. But my [Black] girlfriends here, they were, like: “Are you alright? We’re not offended personally because we know you, but this is why [people are upset].” My biggest question is why I felt the need to f–king post that when I’m so f–king private anyway. I was having such a lovely day with my friends in Jamaica, and that’s the vibe of Notting Hill Carnival for me, always has been. But I didn’t give that any context either.
Existing in a slimmer body now: “I’m definitely really happy now. But it’s not because of my weight, it’s because of the dedication I gave to my brain with therapy and stuff like that, and a lot of crying. Maybe that’s a saying I made up: I used to cry but now I sweat. It really did save me… I’m more agile because I can now move more, because of my back. I got my core strong. I slipped my first disc when I was 15 from sneezing. I was in bed and I sneezed and my fifth one flew out. In January, I slipped my sixth one, my L6. And then where I had a C‑section, my core was useless. I’ve been in pain with my back for, like, half of my life, really. It flares up, normally due to stress or from a stupid bit of posture. But where I got my tummy strong, down at the bottom, which I never had before, my back don’t play up as much. It means I can do more, I can run around with my kid a little bit more.
She bought a new wardrobe: “I had to buy a whole new wardrobe, which was fun. I used to love a smock. I can’t wear them no more, they make me look a bit weird. I had to get rid of a lot of clothes that I had great memories in. There were elements like that. I don’t know if I feel different. I still have things about my body that I don’t like… There’s so much jewellery I can’t wear [now] because of my hands. No one tells you that, when someone loses weight. Not that I was trying to lose weight. But my rings don’t fit me anymore. Things that were gifts for my 21st birthday, I can’t f–king wear.
The reaction to her weight loss: “I think that when anyone is in a bigger body, that body is politicised by other people even if you haven’t chosen to be a spokesperson for that. When you’re bigger, there’s almost like a “defiance” that you’ve even stepped out. A friend said that to me, she was like: “You’re amazing, as big as you are, standing up there.” I was like: what the f–k is that? I’m as confident and mouthy now as I was then! That’s personality. Your body doesn’t give you a f–king personality, man, shut up. That’s wild! I don’t think your body gives you a personality.
She’s absolutely, 100% right that “when anyone is in a bigger body, that body is politicised by other people even if you haven’t chosen to be a spokesperson for that.” Some larger women consciously politicize themselves and their bodies, but Adele doesn’t. She was just existing and thriving in the world as a constant stream of men and women judged her body, sniped at her body, and had conversations about her weight. And holy sh-t, I did not know her back was that bad! She’s been slipping discs since she was a teenager. It must feel amazing for her to be so strong and capable now.
Cover & IG courtesy of The Face.
Without choosing to be, she became a flag bearer for fat women and is now being criticized for going “all Hollywood”, but clearly, being slimmer has been better for her health.
A lot of people think people lose a lot of weight for vanity reasons when it’s actually for their health. It’s weird when strangers criticize people for trying to better themselves and life, claiming they’re selling out.
All of this.
100%
She’s always beautiful but this photo shoot is not flattering.
The smock bit made me laugh. And everything she says about fat bodies and weight loss is spot on.
What she says about her clothes really hit home. I’ve been very conscientious about staying inside a tight weight range as I get older. Not only because I don’t like the way my body feels and looks*, but because I have, over the years, acquired a lovely and pretty much irreplaceable wardrobe in my size. People don’t think of weight loss or gain as an economic issue, but it absolutely is.
*Some people gain weight proportionally. I transform into a potato with legs.
Didn’t this come out last month?? I feel like you should specific that because the article makes it seem like this just came out, not six weeks ago. She’s not still doing promo for 30.
I love her and appreciate her so much. She is just someone who I think I’d love to have at a dinner party with great food and good booze.
The whole backlash against her weight loss pissed me off. For the most part, it was people who were angered that Adele wasn’t their “model” for larger women in society anymore. Give me a break. THAT’s on YOU!! Clearly she did this for her own health reasons, and coming from a long history of an eating disorder myself – if you don’t have something kind to say, don’t say anything!!!!! She is a gorgeous woman, regardless, but seems more healthy & emotionally happy now. Deal with it. I can’t imagine what that backlash was like for her – ugh!!!
I can understand it a little. There’s so much now about how one should embrace one’s size, plus-size models, your body is ok just they way it is, etc. And that’s great, I’m happy to see it. On the other hand, any mention that excess weight could be a health problem is treated as fat-shaming. So, I can see how some of her fans would see her weight loss as a kind of rejection. It’s a weird dilemma, that we expect famous people to be role models, but then we say “no, don’t look to them, think for yourself.”
It’s a weird possessiveness of her body that is actually quite disrespectful. I’m happy for her that she’s seemed to find a balance for her life.
Agreed. It’s important to make peace with the fact that someone being from the same group as you doesn’t mean their wishes and comfort zones when it comes to their bodies are going to always be a match. They’re not extensions of you or of your child. It’s not betrayal or some moral obligation not being met, It’s reality. It doesn’t make it ok to be a jerk or make the other person to blame for your problems. You’re not always going to see what someone else would have to compromise or what it takes emotionally, mentally, or physically to keep fulfilling that wish for you.
@girl_ninja Exactly!! It was a very weird/strange and disrespectful (at times) possessiveness of Adele’s body in many of the comments I saw! She betrayed her base of plus-size women (get over yourself, she never appointed herself as the role model for all plus sized women!!). Others took issue with people complimenting her now, with that somehow meaning she wasn’t beautiful before (WHAT???). And others, straight up accused her of having an eating disorder, or having surgery! I thought it was just awful!! I really did feel bad for her, but it seems (in her recent interviews) she took in stride, and wisely said, that wasn’t her problem, if people were upset, she lost weight! She did it for her health, and anxiety and good for her!
I felt bad for Adele when she posted pictures that showed off her weight loss. People (women) got so upset and really took it personally. I thought it was so f*cking weird. I am a bigger girl, I lost a lot of weight a few years ago but gained a bit back thanks to covid and depression. I never looked at Adele when I was larger as some ‘fat idol’. Clearly, this weight loss was good for her in a lot of ways and she is beautiful and funny and an amazing singer at any size.
I did see her as a “fat model” (or someone who demonstrated beauty in a unique way from the unattainable norm).
From the time Adele came out, she was slowly losing weight. You can track the progress over her promotions with each album release.
Re: weight and health. I hear her re: back issues though. I do have issues with my back and it’s just easier to manage when lighter.
Can we just talk about what her friend said to her? Wtf – I don’t think I would be friends with that person anymore – so rude!
Adele was called out for cultural appropriation due to wearing Bantu knots & posting about it on Insta. Her black friends put in the emotional labour of explaining why there was a negative reaction to that behaviour. She appreciated that honest feedback and took onboard. Her friends aren’t rude. They are honest and invest time in helping her unpack her white privilege. She is lucky to have them in her life.
I think she’s referring to the friend who said she was bold to be on stage as a fat woman.
Yeah, that kind of got to me too. I used to be fat, and if one of my friends said anything in the realm of calling me “fat” I would definitely react the same way she did. I hope she dropped that friend like a bad habit.
Adele is right and I’m happy for her. Her motives to lose weight were legit and it’s her rights to do what she wants (Her friend sucks for saying that.). Lots of people who try to lose weight are doing this for their health. Everything she said I agree completely.
Her motives to lose weight were indeed legit. But what if she wanted to be slimmer for aesthetic reasons? What if she wanted a wider choice of designer dresses to pick from, or to stop being referred to as “larger than life” and as having “such a pretty face”. Her choice and also valid reasons.
The only thing that bothers me about Adele losing weight is people saying to others, you should be able to lose weight if Adele did it. Not accounting for her money, private chefs, etc. I am overweight, see a personal trainer 2 times per week, watch what I eat, but due to PCOS cannot seem to budge this 50 extra lbs.
I’m in the same situation, I’ve to lose 30 lbs (due to too many slipped discs, I’m waiting for surgery at the moment) and I cannot lose half a pound…. depression has also made me increasingly self-indulgent in terms of comfort food, unfortunately.
As a 56 year old woman who has been heavy all her life I think plus size people appreciated that when Adele emerged her talent was so huge it didn’t matter that she did not fit the music industry standard for women. Being heavier than most female singers also made her seem very relatable. Like you could have a fun night out with her and not feel inferior. I feel the same way about Oprah. So looking at her(Adele) now she seems to have moved into a different realm and has gone ‘hollywood’.
Think Rebel Wilson too made a large physical change–her whole schtick was being the fat girl and now she is just another pretty thin girl. Her career may not survive it. What shines through regardless is Adele’s talent and I love that about her regardless of her pant size!
But that’s on you putting Adele in a box that she can never be anything other then her weight or else she “changed” and no longer someone “fun” . Unlike Oprah and Rebel, Adele never made her personality and image about her weight “fans” like you did.
When Adele was heavier she was hanging out with Beyoncé/Jay Z and Taylor .
Yes, you are dismissing the real reason Adele is the superstar she is – HER MUSIC!!!! She didn’t try to break some mold, as a larger woman, to become the phenomenon she is! HER voice did it!!!!! But people, put that role upon her – and therein lies the problem. Yes, Rebel Wilson is another example. Why can’t these women take care of their health and well-being, without it being some trigger to other women who struggle with their own weight? I sincerely do not get it. It really is about people projecting their own issues upon these women, and that is unfortunate. I am not immune to my own struggles with weight and body image, so I do understand. I suffered from anorexia for almost two decades but finally recovered, and now in my early fifties, in early menopause, I have gained some weight. Something I am not used to. I think, as women, most of us do struggle with body image. But why can’t we be supportive to one another in all this? It’s hard enough, no?
Do you value yourself in relation to others only based on your weight? You say that before Adele lost her weight you felt like you could “have a fun night out with her and not feel inferior”. I find this choice of words interesting. I mean, you could still feel inferior going out with a fat Adele, as she has both immense talent AND wealth, but it’s interesting how only her slimness makes you feel inferior.
Hallelujah I’m not the only one! I herniated a disc when I was 25. It was the most excruciating pain I’ve ever experienced. Kudos to Adele for doing the work of strengthening her core. Anyone with back problems knows it’s an ongoing battle. If you have a sedentary job, you have to make it a priority. I’m loving this version of Adele. She’s definitely put the work in (emotionally and physically) and I admire her for it.
I herniated one at 28, losing an arm all of a sudden. 20 years later I’m on my 11th one and likely will need surgery.
Every time I read an interview or see her chatting with someone, she comes across as someone I would love to hang out with and talk to.
Everything she has said here is spot on, and I hope she is able to tune all the noise out and just live her life.
I think what a lot of people miss in the weight loss discussion is how the media went and praised Adele for the weight loss. She herself has said time and time again weight loss was not her goal and how she is basically addicted to working out now, doing 3 workouts a day. It’s touted as super healthy by certain media when the reality is 3 workouts a day is actually putting incredible strain on the body, and a lot of bodies are not made for that.
I have struggled with my weight and disordered eating for most of my life, when I was doing 3 workouts a day and eating only up to 1200 calories a day I started to get a month long period.
Being skinnier isn’t automatically being healthier, evidenced by plenty of medical studies.
You also cannot imagine the medical fat phobia I have experienced as a plus size pregnant woman (size 18, but bmi of 36 when I got pregnant). My baby and I could have died due to the mistreatment I received based solely on my bmi.
This is a reality plenty of plus size people deal with on a daily basis, so then when the media started putting all this emphasis on how much better and healthier Adele is after weight loss, I think that is triggering for a lot of us. But also her weight wasn’t that much of a focus before, now it’s all the media talks about.
Tl, dr: if Adele is happy and healthy that’s great, but the media really needs to stop pushing diet culture.