Comedian Matt Lucas has apologised to actress Millie Bobby Brown after he posted a Little Britain catchphrase alongside photographs of the 21-year-old on social media.
Lucas, 50, wrote “no but yeah but”, a phrase used by delinquent teenager Vicky Pollard in the sketch comedy series he co-created, on an X post that reshared pictures of the Stranger Things star.
The photos show Brown in Los Angeles wearing hoop earrings and a pink top, which Lucas said had prompted him to point out “the similarity by posting one of her [Vicky’s] catchphrases”.
The apology came after an Instagram post from Brown in which she hit out at negative comments and “bullying” about her appearance on social media and in news articles.
Lucas said: “Dear Millie, I just saw your post and wanted to respond, and provide some context. Nearly 25 years ago I co-wrote and appeared in a sketch show called Little Britain.
“There was a character in it called Vicky Pollard, who had blonde hair and always wore a pink top, and in the photo you had blonde hair and wore a pink top so I pointed out the similarity by posting one of her catchphrases.
“I thought you looked terrific and I was mortified when the press wrote that I ‘slammed’ you, firstly because that’s not my style, and secondly because I think you’re brilliant.
“I would not have posted it if I had thought it would have upset you but I realise it has and for that I apologise.”
Little Britain, which also starred David Walliams, began as a radio show in 2000 and moved to TV in 2003, running for three series.
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In her video, Brown said: “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.
“I think this is very necessary to talk about. 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. And because I don’t, I’m now a target.”
She quoted headlines from articles, among them references to Lucas’s comments, which she said were “amplifying an insult rather than questioning why a grown man is mocking a young woman’s appearance”.
“This isn’t journalism. This is bullying. The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, is disturbing.
“The fact that some of these articles are written by women makes it even worse. We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women but, when it comes down to it, it seems a lot easier to tear them down for clicks,” she added.
“Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not their own. I refuse to apologise for growing up. 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. We have become a society where it’s so much easier to criticise than it is to pay a compliment.”
She ended her post by saying: “Let’s do better. Not just for me, but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without the fear of being torn apart for simply existing.”
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Celebrities including Sex And The City’s Sarah Jessica Parker, as well as singers Pixie Lott and Lily Allen, left messages of support for the young actress.
Brown became a household name after starring as Eleven in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things.
The fifth and final series of the show, which started in 2016, is due to air this year.
The British actress also landed the title role as mystery-solving sleuth Enola Holmes in the 2020 film and its sequel two years later.
Brown, who married Jake Bongiovi, the son of rock star Jon Bon Jovi, last year, has been promoting the new Russo Brothers film, The Electric State, in which she stars alongside Chris Pratt.
