Millie Bobby Brown Red Carpet Photographer Clap Back

Millie Bobby Brown Claps Back at Photographer on Red Carpet

Millie Bobby Brown is turning her sass up to 11.

The actress had no problem shutting down a photographer who yelled at her to smile for the camera during the Nov. 13 premiere of Stranger Things season five in London.

As she made her way down the red carpet in a strapless black corset gown from Ashi Studio, Millie opted not to flash her pearly whites—instead striking a serious pose—leading to the quippy exchange.

“Smile?” she retorted. “You smile!”

To emphasize that she’s had enough, the 21-year-old turned around and sashayed away from the photographer.

And Millie is no stranger to a clapback. After facing unwarranted comments about her appearance earlier this year, she called out online critics accusing her of “aging so badly,”

“I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me, something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny,” she began in a March Instagram post. “I started in this industry when I was 10 years old. I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me.”

“Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things season one,” the Enola Holmes star continued. “And because I don’t, I’m now a target.”

Condemning the “bullying,” Millie—who adopted a baby girl with husband Jake Bongiovi this summer—said the fact that there are people “spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices—it’s disturbing.”

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“Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs,” she added. “I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman. I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself.”

For more iconic clapbacks from Millie, keep reading…

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She’s No Longer Eleven

Having been in the spotlight since her Stanger Things debut at age 12 in 2016, Millie Bobby Brown has faced increased scrutiny for her appearance as she enters her 20s, with some fans opining that she looks and dresses older than her age. Millie, in response, took the opportunity to highlight the systemic issue “bigger than just me” that women face in an Instagram video posted in March 2025. 
“I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me,” she shared. “Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things season one. And because I don’t, I’m now a target.”
She took particular issue with people she felt were tearing her—and other stars—down just to get attention. 
“I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman,” she said. “I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself.”
Millie continued, “Let’s do better. Not just for me, but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without fear of being torn apart for simply existing.”

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What a Strange Thing to Say

Following her appearance at The Electric State premiere in February 2025, comments flooded Millie’s social media criticizing her look. One user wrote “Literally had to double check she turned 21 the other day and not 40,” while another commented, “Lookin older than ever!!”
Responding to the criticism, British Vogue published an article titled, “No One Cares How Old You Think Millie Bobby Brown Looks.” 
Particularly Millie herself, who reshared the article on her Instagram Story, writing, “Thank you.”

Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix

Her Age is Not a Mystery

While critics were quick to comment on a December 2024 mirror selfie Millie posted, accusing her of making herself look older than she is, the Enola Holmes actress was faster to clap back.   
“Women grow!!” she wrote on Instagram Story. “Not sorry about it :)”

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Her Accent Isn’t From the Upside Down

In a March 2024 interview, Tiktoker Max Balegde asked the Florence by Mills founder about comments from fans wondering if she was losing her British accent. 
“Let me speak to that real quick,” Millie responded. “I’m an actor. I grew up in the public eye. I grew up in America. I come to set and I’m an actor and I adapt. And so I want to mimic people.”
While she agreed she does sound more American in different settings, like with her fiancé Jake Bongiovi or on a late-night show with a host like Jimmy Fallon, she “can’t help” that, countering her British accent is more prominent when she’s in England. 
“I don’t do it intentionally,” she continued. “I’m sorry if it offends you. Okay, but listen, I’m trying my best. I’m trying my best!”

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She’s No Damsel

Millie noticed a difference in how people began to treat her after she turned 18 in 2022. On The Guilty Feminist podcast that April, she opened up about having to navigate being a young adult while existing “in the public eye.”
“But it’s gross and it’s true and so I think it’s just a very good representation of what’s going on in the world and how young girls are sexualized and so I have been dealing with that but have also been dealing with that for forever.”
The child star recalled a time she wore a poofy dress to a red carpet when she was 16 and was criticized for trying to appear older with its low cut.  
“I thought, ‘Is this really what we’re talking about?’” she added. “We should be talking about the incredible people that were there at the awards show, the talent that was there and the people that we’re representing.”
At the time, she decided to stop posting anything personal to her social media, instead hoping to use her platform to inspire others. 
“You’re not gonna see that part of me,” she explained. “You get to see the things I choose to put out in the world. I hope if there’s a 12-year-old that’s told Instagram they’re 18, and they’ve created an account, they’re going on my account and they’re not being exploited to the horrible world that’s out there.”

Mike Marsland/WireImage

A Serious Matter

When a red carpet photographer yelled at her to smile during the London premiere of Stranger Things season five in November 2025, Millie had no problem shutting down the demand.

“Smile?” she retorted before walking away. “You smile!”