A woman named Charlie Stevens was grocery shopping with her 5-month-old son minding her own business when a stranger walked up to her and body-shamed her. Charlie detailed the horrid encounter via Facebook in a post and her reaction has since gone viral.
Charlie recalled that she first noticed a woman staring at her.
"A couple minutes later, she came up to me and said 'I think your clothes are a little too small on you.' Completely caught off guard and baffled and also hoping she didn’t say what I thought she said, I said, ‘Excuse me?' And she said, ‘Well no offense but you’re just a bit big to wear those type of clothes.'”
As documented by her mirror selfie, Charlie was dressed casually in a long-sleeved workout top and leggings.
“Usually I’m so quick to lash out at rude people and I’m never shy when it comes down to speaking my mind. But I froze. Froze and cried,” Charlie continued. “She said ‘I’m not trying to be mean but maybe just reconsider your outfit before leaving your house from now on.’ She walked away and I just stood there … I was literally crying in the middle of the Christmas aisle at Kroger. I left without buying anything and sat in my car and cried.”
Charlie continued that she’s thankful her 4-year-old wasn’t also with them and that, sure, she’d like to lose a little weight, but she isn’t unhappy with herself.
“How are people so rude? It’s no secret that I’ve gained weight throughout life. I’ve birthed two kids so it’s bound to happen. Do I realize I’m overweight? Yes. Do I want to be smaller? Yes. But am I okay with the way I look? Yes!! Why would a complete stranger go out of their way to insult someone? What if I was severely depressed? Or what if I was constantly made fun of for my weight and that one comment from that stranger pushed me over the edge? Luckily, I’m neither of those things,” she concluded. “But people have got to start being nice. Having common sense. Being respectful. This lady knew nothing about me … Please, PLEASE, have some respect for people. You never know what someone is going through or if your one little comment, snicker, stare, whatever will be enough to break someone down or push them over the edge. I’m not writing this for sympathy but just as a plea to anyone who might read this to just be nice and have respect for people."