Recently invited to open the Ballon d’Or ceremony with her song “Feel Good,” Charlotte Cardin has since found herself, despite herself, at the center of a media storm. On social media, the Quebec singer has been the target of scathing and sexist remarks about her body, illustrating the persistence of body shaming against female artists.
Attacks displaced on networks
Shortly after her performance, messages criticizing her physique flooded the internet: “Who is this skeleton?” , “Feed him,” and even “wire.” While Charlotte Cardin did not respond to these attacks, her fans took to the stage, denouncing the destructive use of so-called “freedom of expression” to comment negatively on others’ bodies. Many pointed out that body shape is not a choice, and that body diversity deserves to be respected.
Massive support for the singer
Internet users and celebrities quickly showed their support for the artist, praising her beauty and performance despite the coldness of the audience. Some people highlighted the effect of social media, where anonymity and everyday sexism make up a toxic cocktail for many famous women. Fans emphasized the injustice of being judged “too thin,” “too fat,” “too tall,” “too old”—denouncing constant and irrational pressure.
A “great moment of solitude” on stage
In addition to the wave of criticism that has been ongoing since the Ballon d’Or ceremony, Charlotte Cardin received a frosty reception at the ceremony: the audience at the ceremony remained almost silent at the end of her performance, a moment she later described as “a great moment of solitude” on the set of the Quotidien show. She kept smiling, however, stating that it was still an honor and that she had never experienced anything like it before.
Ultimately, this situation reveals the trivialization of body shaming and reminds us of the importance of publicly supporting those who are its targets, while questioning our collective responsibility in the face of digital and media excesses.
