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Woman Keeps Commenting On Coworkers Body, Can’t Handle When She Claps Back
Woman with hands on hips looking frustrated in mirror, expressing feelings about body positivity and skinny-shaming.

Woman Keeps Commenting On Coworkers Body, Can’t Handle When She Claps Back

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Let’s be honest. We have all been conscious about our bodies at some point in our lives, whether it’s how we think we look or how others perceive us. It gets worse when we have people around that make backhanded comments disguised as ‘jokes’ or advice.

But how do you react when it comes from someone who constantly talks about self-acceptance and body positivity?

This is exactly what happened to a woman who found herself confused after a coworker — known for their social media posts about body positivity — constantly criticized her for being “too skinny.”

Over time, the repeated remarks began to take a toll on the woman and she called out her colleague for her “hypocrisy.”

What followed was a tense workplace confrontation, which made the woman turn to Reddit to understand if she had overreacted.

RELATED:

    Woman faces harsh comments from a coworker who preaches body positivity

    Woman looking in a mirror, reflecting on body image and reacting to coworker skinny-shaming and body positivity conflict.

    Image credits: Natalia Blauth (not the actual photo)

    Repeated remarks left the woman questioning workplace boundaries

    Text excerpt about woman fed up with coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming and blowing up at her.

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    Woman embracing her body type and sharing inspiring body positivity quotes on her social media accounts.

    Text expressing support for treating and accepting everyone regardless of their body type, related to body positivity.

    Text excerpt about the importance of being healthy by eating right, exercising, and caring for mental health.

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    Text on white background stating a woman fed up with coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming.

    Text excerpt showing a woman fed up with coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming at work.

    Text example showing a woman fed up with coworker skinny-shaming while discussing body positivity.

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    Text excerpt discussing a woman fed up with a coworker skinny-shaming while preaching body positivity.

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    Her coworker’s hypocrisy made her angry and frustrated

    Alt text: Woman fed up with coworker skinny-shaming while preaching body positivity in a workplace conversation.

    Text expressing frustration over hypocritical skinny-shaming and defending body positivity and healthy habits.

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    Text excerpt showing frustration with a coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming and unhealthy habits.

    Woman fed up with coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming confronts her during a work shift.

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    Text saying a woman named Anna witnessed a conversation and commented someone might be into curvier girls.

    Text on white background about a woman fed up with coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming her.

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    Text excerpt discussing a woman fed up with coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming and confronting her.

    Text excerpt from a woman fed up with coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming, ending shift early to avoid argument.

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    Woman fed up with coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming during heated conversation indoors

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    Image credits: Karola G (not the actual photo)

    Text message expressing frustration with a coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming, seeking opinions.

    Image source: strangeste

    Negative comments about weight or body shape can affect mental health

    Studies show that even those considered underweight can face stigma and are victims of its harmful effects on health. Body shaming does not just hurt feelings, it can also lead to eating disorders, emotional stress, as well as depression and anxiety.

    It can also make it harder to focus at work or at school, and impact your relationships with friends, coworkers, and family.

    Worrying about being judged about your body type might even make you avoid social activities or keep to yourself.

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    Unsolicited opinions on appearance can hurt anyone

    Young woman looking upset and frustrated in a bathroom mirror, reflecting feelings of being skinny-shamed and body positivity conflict.

    Image credits: Gabriel Ponton (not the actual photo)

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    Body shaming isn’t limited to certain body types — it can happen to anyone.

    It wasn’t long ago that actor and singer Ariana Grande took to social media to shut down critics shaming her for being “too thin.” The comments surfaced after her weight loss for the movie Wicked.

    And this wasn’t even the first time. In 2024, she posted a TikTok for those worried about her appearance, reminding everyone that body-shaming — no matter the size — is never okay.

    “I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies, no matter,” she said. “If you think you’re saying something good or well intentioned, whatever it is… We just shouldn’t. We should really work towards not doing that as much.”

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    Grande also said whether the criticism targets a celebrity or not, it’s “something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you’re experiencing it on.”

    A workplace can feel unsafe when personal boundaries are crossed

    Unsolicited opinions that make someone uncomfortable, put them down, or reinforce stereotypes are considered inappropriate — even if the speaker didn’t mean harm. They hurt trust, lower morale, and make teamwork harder.

    In a recent survey of US employees, 91% said that rude behavior in the workplace has a negative impact on a company’s overall performance, while 81% said they find it difficult to concentrate after someone has done or said something rude.

    A high percentage of employees said they have thought about quitting a job due to a rude coworker or boss.

    The survey also found that bad behavior is often brushed aside at work. At least 57% employees said the company usually ignored rude behavior by star employees as long as they performed well at work.

    “A culture that ignores rude interactions will eventually pay the price with a damaged reputation and departing employees,” said Tamara Rodman, a senior client partner in Korn Ferry’s Culture, Change and Communication practice, during the survey.

    Many agreed she had every right to push back after constant criticism

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    Text post on social media about a woman fed up with a coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment where a user discusses being fed up with a coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming.

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    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing frustration with a coworker skinny-shaming while preaching body positivity.

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    Screenshot of an online comment discussing being fed up with a coworker skinny-shaming while preaching body positivity.

    Alt text: Online comment discussing frustration with skinny-shaming and body positivity debates among coworkers and family.

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    Screenshot of a user comment discussing body positivity and skinny-shaming in a coworker conflict thread.

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    Text post from an anonymous user debating body positivity and calling out skinny-shaming in a heated online discussion.

    Comment expressing frustration with skinny-shaming and supporting body positivity in a heated online discussion.

    Screenshot of an online discussion about body positivity and skinny-shaming, highlighting a user’s strong opinion and frustration.

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    Screenshot of an online comment reacting strongly to a woman fed up with coworker preaching body positivity and skinny-shaming.

    Some argued she should have set boundaries earlier instead of snapping

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    Comment discussing body positivity and a coworker skinny-shaming in an online forum conversation.

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    Screenshot of a forum comment where a user advises stopping negative body comments amid a body positivity debate.

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    Comment from user ImReallyNotNice supporting woman fed up with coworker preaching body positivity while skinny-shaming.

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    Comment discussing skinny-shaming and body positivity, addressing coworker conflicts and healthy habits advice.

    Screenshot of an online comment discussing frustration over hypocrisy in body positivity and skinny-shaming debates.

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    Screenshot of an online forum comment expressing frustration over coworker skinny-shaming despite body positivity preaching.

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    Screenshot of an online comment criticizing a coworker’s take on body positivity and skinny-shaming.

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    Ridhima Shukla

    Ridhima Shukla

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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    Ridhima Shukla

    Ridhima Shukla

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

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    I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.

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    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.

    Jonas Žvilius

    Jonas Žvilius

    Author, BoredPanda staff

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    In my spare time, I enjoy creating art - both in traditional and digital form, mainly in the form of painting and animation. Other interests include gaming and music. Favorite bands include Swans, The Strokes, The Beatles.

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    Jonas Žvilius

    Jonas Žvilius

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    In my spare time, I enjoy creating art - both in traditional and digital form, mainly in the form of painting and animation. Other interests include gaming and music. Favorite bands include Swans, The Strokes, The Beatles.

    What do you think ?
    Nils Skirnir
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Obese people can be as much self-righteous twits as anyone else

    Ace
    Community Member
    Premium
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This one's quite high on the rage-bait scale, but if it's real then the fat person is seriously deluded in thinking that "body-positive" means that everybody else needs to be as fat as she is. It's a bit like an alcoholic always trying to get everybody around them to drink as much as they do.

    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Chubby coworker is a jealous insecure jerk and a bully. Unless it's something like "ooh, nice haircut", or "I love your tattoo!", don't comment on other people's bodies full stop.

    Load More Comments
    Nils Skirnir
    Community Member
    16 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Obese people can be as much self-righteous twits as anyone else

    Ace
    Community Member
    Premium
    18 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This one's quite high on the rage-bait scale, but if it's real then the fat person is seriously deluded in thinking that "body-positive" means that everybody else needs to be as fat as she is. It's a bit like an alcoholic always trying to get everybody around them to drink as much as they do.

    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    19 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Chubby coworker is a jealous insecure jerk and a bully. Unless it's something like "ooh, nice haircut", or "I love your tattoo!", don't comment on other people's bodies full stop.

    Load More Comments
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