Adele metaphorically broke the internet when she shared a photo of herself on her 32nd birthday which showed her slimmed down figure.- The singer's look prompted an enormous amount of commentary and debate around
weight loss , with people across the world both praising and criticizing her. - Adele's former
personal trainer Pete Geracimo has spoken out in the megastar's defence, writing on Instagram that it was "disheartening" to read so much negativity. - He told Insider that "no one should be criticized for achieving their goals."
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On May 6, Adele celebrated her 32nd birthday by sharing a photo of herself — the first she's posted on Instagram in 2020 — with a kind message thanking healthcare workers for their service during the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the photo swiftly got the world talking due to the fact that the singer looked noticeably slimmer than previously, having reportedly lost 98 pounds in recent years.
The photo prompted online debate both for and against the conversation around her weight loss.
A wave of comments made the rounds on social media, both praising Adele for her "glow up" and criticizing her for "betraying" the plus-size community.
—A. (@amirnrf) May 6, 2020
—kayla marie (@kaylariossss) May 6, 2020
A few days after the storm around her weight loss erupted, Adele's former personal trainer Pete Geracimo wrote a long message on Instagram in defence of the star, saying that it was "disheartening" to read so much negativity.
Geracimo told Insider he worked with Adele for four years from 2012 to 2016, before she moved to LA.
"When Adele and I started our journey together, it was never about getting super skinny," he wrote on Instagram. "It was about getting her healthy. Especially post pregnancy and post surgery.
"When [Adele's 2015 album] '25' dropped and the tour announced, we had to get ready for a 13-month gruelling schedule. In that time, she warmed to training and made better food choices."
Geracimo said that since moving to LA, Adele found "a new sense of self" and a desire to be the best version of herself, embracing better eating habits and committing to
"I could not be prouder or happier for her," he said. "This metamorphosis is not for album sales, publicity, or to be a role model. She is doing it for herself and for [7-year-old son] Angelo.
"My hope is that people appreciate the hard work that Adele has done to improve herself for the benefit to her and her family only. She did not lose the weight to make others feel bad about themselves.
"This personal transformation has nothing to do with me or you. It's about Adele and how she wants to live her life. She has not changed from the Adele we grew up with and have loved. There is just a little less of her to go around."
Geracimo told Insider that he wanted to speak out because "no matter who you are, regardless of celebrity status, your personal goals are just that ... personal."
"Sadly, social media is too commonly used as a vehicle to spread armchair negativity without any consideration or responsibility for the personal impact on an individual," he said.
"This is all too common in the world today, so I felt compelled to remind those that no one should be criticized for achieving their goals, which for all my clients is about improving fitness and
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