- Some men on the internet have declared Margot Robbie to be "mid" as the "Barbie" move nears.
- That's another way of saying that her looks are average.
Some men have decided superstar actor Margot Robbie, one of the most celebrated beauties in showbusiness, isn't actually all that attractive.
One critic on Twitter posted a photo of Robbie last week, declaring her "Definitely mid" — that's the latest Gen Z speak for someone who looks average. Another described Robbie as "a hard 7."
It came as publicity ramped up for "Barbie," which opens on July 21 with Robbie in the lead role.
"You used to find a Margot Robbie in every Blockbuster Video in 1995," they wrote.
The posts caught a lot of attention, and sparked a backlash on TikTok, where many banded together to call out what they say is a delusional attempt to belittle women and tear Robbie down.
@yourtango There are men on Twitter calling Margot Robbie 'mid.' Um, excuse me? #margotrobbiemid #Margotrobbie #barbiemovie #barbie #mid ♬ original sound - YourTango
As well as her acting career, Robbie is a celebrated producer, and was nominated for an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe for her producing and acting in the Tonya Harding biopic "I, Tonya."
It wasn't clear whether the posts declaring Robbie "mid" were the men's real view, or a ploy to rile people up.
Regardless — TikTokers have been fighting back, and analyzing why people might want to paint Robbie as not being very attractive.
"If this is mid, you mofo's lost the plot," said Noel, a TikToker whose focus is online dramas.
"This woman is clearly not mid," said Arghavan Salles, a researcher of gender equality and inclusion. "Like, she's clearly gorgeous. So why are they saying this?"
Salles said Robbie's power is intimidating, so misogynists attack the one thing they think a woman brings to the world — her looks.
"To them that's the only value we provide to the world," she said. "It's not our sense of humor, our intelligence, or our talents, but how we look that provides value."
@arghavansallesmdphd I’m jealous of the Malibu mansion too! But Margot Robbie is a baddie and a hottie. That’s undeniable if you live in reality. Thank you, @YourTango! #barbie #margotrobbie #sexism #misogyny #mid ♬ original sound - Dr. Arghavan Salles
Attorney and content creator Reb Masel also weighed in, saying that when men "rate" women or call them "mid," it's never about looks, and "always about holding your beauty hostage" as if it belongs to the men judging it.
She contested the sexist idea that a woman's beauty and worth is something only men have the power to determine and provide.
"They don't accept and don't respect women, period," she said. "But also do not accept and do not respect women who carry around their own beauty and light and value and gorg' in their own pocket, and say, 'You never had this — it's always been mine, and will always be mine.'"