rogue

Emily 'we get it, you’re hot' Ratajkowski and her many cancellations.

It's been more than 10 years since Emily Ratajkowski came to the world's attention thanks to that scene in Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' film clip in 2013. 

But despite all the success that's followed, the genetically blessed model/actress/writer has always divided people who aren't quite sure how to take her.

The 32-year-old hasn't been far from the headlines over the years, whether for her outspoken views on feminism and her right to flaunt her sexuality, or for lecturing others on what it means to be a woman and a commodity in society.

All of this has led to the near-cancellation of Ratajkowski several times over the years...

Listen: The hosts Cancelled dive deep into Emily Ratajkowski's cancellations. Post continues below. 


The problematic 'Blurred Lines' film clip.

In 2013, a young Ratajkowski appeared as the busty brunette in the raunchy film clip for Robin Thicke's catchy but controversial song, 'Blurred Lines'. The track was widely blasted as having misogynistic and problematic lyrics, and the film clip didn't help matters, with Ratajkowski dancing around barely clothed and even topless at one point next to a fully clothed Thicke.

But when quizzed on the questionable song, Ratajkowski described the lyrics as "playful" and the video clip "fun, silly", telling Complex, "I was never uncomfortable. I don’t think that nudity is something weird. I think it’s natural and it’s something to be celebrated."

It's understandable that she would defend the project that made her a star – after all, she scored impressive roles in Gone Girl, Entourage and We Are Your Friends off the back of the buzzed-about music clip.

ADVERTISEMENT

She protested to anyone who would listen that nudity was something to be celebrated, insisting, "[My mum] always told me never to feel sorry or apologetic or embarrassed by my body, to never apologise for my sexuality."

When people questioned whether a true feminist would show off their body for work and money, Ratajkowksi said, "All I can say is that when a woman is naked, that’s not immediately anti-feminist. I have no apologies for it, and I’m not ashamed at all.”

But a few years later, Ratajkowksi backtracked about her involvement, calling the video clip "the bane of my existence" and in 2021, she claimed that Thicke had groped her breasts on set.

“They were the talent; we were more like props,” Ratajkowski wrote of the men in the clip. 

Her 'hypocrisy' and 'empty feminism'.

Over the years, Ratajkowksi has become known for being vocal on a range of issues, largely her stance on feminism. She's well aware of the criticism about her, including that she's a hypocrite who doesn't practice what she preaches.

But she told Vogue Australia, “The only argument that I think is sort of interesting is the conversation that somehow I’m playing into a patriarchal society by looking the way I look and capitalising on my sexiness.

“But I don’t really care if me wearing a crop top is somehow playing into some patriarchy, because it makes me feel good about myself, and I shouldn’t be limited on that. Making rules as to what a feminist should look like or wear is insane to me.”

ADVERTISEMENT

She delved deeper into the complexities of being a woman in her 2021 book, My Body – a book of essays exploring the blessing and curse of looking like she does. The premise induced plenty of eye rolls from her sceptics, but nonetheless, it became a New York Times bestseller and garnered praise from stars such as Amy Schumer and Lena Dunham.

The model writes in the book, “All women are objectified and sexualised to some degree, I figured, so I might as well do it on my own terms. I thought that there was power in my ability to choose to do so.”

That post-birth picture.

In March 2021, Ratajkowski welcomed her first child, baby boy Sylvester. Just 11 days later, she posted a video and photo of herself modelling loungewear from her Inamorata range, showing off her completely flat stomach in the process. The footage divided people once again – some saying she was free to post as she pleases, the others calling out the 'smug' model for reinforcing unrealistic body expectations for new mums.

ADVERTISEMENT

Aussie actress and mum-of-two Claire Holt didn't hold back with her criticism of Ratajkowski's post.

“I try not to be the Grinch on here, but I really wanna say something cos it’s annoying me. If you post a picture of your completely flat stomach 10 days after having a baby and call that body positivity, to me that’s the same as posting a picture of the millions of dollars in your bank account and calling that success positivity,” Holt said in a video posted to her Instagram stories.

“It might be true, but it makes other people feel s**tty about themselves, and it’s not normal, and you’re an outlier, and you’re lucky. So maybe don’t show that part? Can we just use Instagram to try and make people feel included and not feel s**t about themselves?”

Her feud with Celeste Barber.

Image: TwitterWe all know (and love) Celeste Barber for her parodies of celebrity photos, in which she recreates famous poses and mocks herself in the process. But Ratajkowski took offence to one side-by-side Barber posted in 2021, where she poked fun at the model's swimwear campaign and feminist attitude.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We are sick of you objectifying our bodies! Also, here's my ass," Barber posted next to a pic of Ratajkowski in skimpy swimwear, which some said screamed 'internalised misogyny'.

At the time, Ratajkowksi blocked Barber on social media, but she said on her High Low podcast recently, “This whole drama with Celeste has been blown out of proportion.

“In general, I find her to be really funny. But, [the] message I was trying to send to her was, ‘I just don’t want you to do this to me anymore.'”

Feature image: Instagram/@emrata

Love watching TV and movies? Take our survey now to go in the running to win a $100 gift voucher.
00:00 / ???