The star of the Twlight movies, Taylor Lautner, has been receiving hate online regarding his appearance, with most comments relating to how he has changed physically since portraying werewolf Jacob Black in the hit saga. In a recent video, the actor decided to comment on how those negative remarks have affected his mental health and how he has been coping with them lately.
The hateful remarks caught the actor’s attention on Instagram.
Taylor Lautner is back in the limelight after an acting hiatus that lasted 6 years between 2016 and 2022. Although many are happy to see the actor back on-screen, others have been anything but friendly towards him on social media.
On May 22, 2023, Lautner posted a video to Instagram calling out the criticism he has been facing online, all due to natural physical changes that come with aging. “I just got back from a run. I was feeling really good about myself, trying to stay healthy both physically and mentally,” he started. “I felt compelled to share something with you because when I got back from that run, I hopped on Instagram (…) I was going through the comments [of a post], and it brought up old feelings and memories why I don’t look through comments.”
He then went on to show a few of the hurtful comments he saw that day as a way to raise awareness about cyberbullying and mental health. The list included things such as “he did not age well” and “he looks so old,” among other stronger offenses.
“If this was 10 years ago, 5 years ago, maybe even 2, 3 years ago, that really would have got under my skin,” he admitted. “It would have caused me to want to just go in a hole and not go outside.”
However, the 31-year-old explained that although it still bothers him to read negative comments about himself, he’s mentally in a different place. “You find value where you put it,” Lautner pointed out. “And if you put your value in what other people think of you, that’s how you’re going to feel. But if you put your value in knowing who you are, what’s important to you, and what you love, that stuff won’t get to you.”
The actor ended the video with a message of positivity and advice for everyone. “My biggest point is just think about and remember where you put your value in life, and also just be nice,” he said. “It’s not that difficult. Let’s be nice to each other. Let’s spread love and positivity. It’s that simple.”
Bonus: You can watch the full video here.
Lautner has long been on a journey to live a more private life and to find happiness in the small things. He has since found his soulmate and got married, so his decision to step away from the public eye seems to have been the right one.