Great British Bake Off heartthrob John Whaite, who is currently slaying the competition across the pond on the 19th season of Dancing With the Star's UK sister show Strictly Come Dancing, has a few choice words for unkind commentators and internet trolls who accuse him of just being "yet another muscle Mary."
In a heartfelt open note posted to his Instagram account earlier today, the 32-year-old baker-turned-ballroom-extraordinaire had a simple yet effective message for those who insist on commenting on other people and their bodies: you have no clue what another person is going through.
"Since I started working out I’ve had so many messages from members of the gay community telling me how disappointed they are with me for becoming 'yet another muscle Mary,'" Whaite began his post. "I don’t work out so I can post pictures of myself on Instagram. I don’t work out because I feel having a muscular body shape makes me a better person. I work out because I am bulimic and because I have struggled with body dysmorphia since I was a little boy. Going to the gym is my way of keeping things under control. It allows me to feel like I have a small grip on the rudder of my life."
He continued:
"I also listen to classical music while I work out, so it gives me a little time to zone out of this very hectic world we all share. But please, if you’re going to post platitudinal screenshots about being kind and caring, please put that into practice. You don’t know what any single one of us is going through."
"If you feel the need to comment on someone else’s life, direct that energy inwards and focus on yourself," Whaite concluded. "It’ll make you a better person."
Now THAT's how you effortlessly and graciously school the haters!
On a more positive note, John and his history-making dance partner Johannes Radebe continue to wow the judges and the fans on Strictly as the competition keeps zooming on by! Just this past weekend, the two blessed the world with a sexy rumba routine that had many of us speechless.
And last month, they effortlessly danced the cha-cha to Olly Alexander-fronted Years & Years' latest bop "Starstruck." (We love queer icons supporting other queer icons!)
While we wish he didn't have to deal with the unnecessarily mean haters, we're glad Whaite knows how to deal with them flawlessly and be a beacon of kindness for others to follow in his (dancing) footsteps!
