Fans made memes to compliment Adele's apparent weight loss after she posted an Instagram for her birthday, but others said the reaction was 'fat-phobic'

• Fans quickly reacted online to a rare new image of Adele for the singer's 32nd birthday that appeared to show her weight loss transformation.
• "Thank you for the birthday love. I hope you're all staying safe and sane during this crazy time," she wrote in the Instagram caption.
• Social media was abuzz with memes and jokes about Adele's glow-up. Still, many people said the memes and excessive compliments over weight loss were "fat-phobic" and harmful.
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Adele posted a rare new photo to celebrate her 32nd birthday, and fans were quick to notice her change of appearance.

The new picture is the first image she's shared of herself in 2020. "Thank you for the birthday love. I hope you're all staying safe and sane during this crazy time," she wrote in the caption.

The "Someone Like You" singer reportedly underwent a weight loss transformation this year after her divorce. Though Adele hasn't spoken publicly about it, there's been a great deal of speculation surrounding her journey. According to People, the singer has been cross-training and doing Pilates.

Even Chrissy Teigen commented on the post, marveling at how Adele looked, writing, "I mean are you kidding me."

Fans made memes about Adele's glow-up, commenting on how she would not need to "find someone like you" anymore and that this transformation was what she "deserved."

But online reactions to the post varied — many people said the memes and excessive compliments over weight loss were "fat-phobic" and harmful. Writer Elly Belle shared on Twitter that making "a big deal about someone's extreme weight loss" can communicate to "friends and any fat people and bigger people that they'd be better skinnier and smaller."

Others echoed that sentiment, writing that the conversation in support of weight loss reinforced the "skinny ideal" and that Adele was beautiful before.

But regardless of the singer's appearance, fans pointed out that her biggest achievements weren't related to her body, but her incredible talent and success as a musician. "Never mind Adele's weight loss, her achievements so far are MAD," said one user.

Adele has won 15 Grammy awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe, among her other accolades.

She didn't immediately respond for comment.

Read more:

• Adele shared a rare photo of herself in a black minidress on her birthday and called essential workers 'our angels'
• No, Adele did not get a platinum blonde buzzcut
• Adele is the artist of the decade
• 12 interesting things you didn't know about Adele