Millie Bobby Brown finds herself on the defensive amidst the storm of backlash triggered by her accent's transformation. During her appearance on the 'SmartLess' podcast, the 'Stranger Things' sensation delved into the scrutiny she's faced for switching between a British and American twang. "That was quite the furor for a spell," she reminisced. "I dubbed it 'accent-gate' because it was so infuriating, permeating everywhere. For a fleeting moment, everyone was engrossed in dissecting my accent, finding fault with it. And I thought, 'Folks, I'm married to an American,'" she added, referring to her May 2024 nuptials with Jake Bongiovi.
Immersed in Bongiovi's family's American-accented conversations, Brown confessed to effortlessly adopting their dialect. "When I'm amidst his family, I slip into an American accent effortlessly. But after a stint in England, the instant I hear my parents' accent, I revert back," she elaborated.
She likened this accent-shifting to embodying diverse roles: "You expect me to portray these characters flawlessly, yet balk at my adaptability. I mimic what I hear; it's an inherent part of my craft."
This isn't the first time Brown has addressed the accent-related criticism head-on. In a previous interview with internet sensation Max Balegde, she echoed similar sentiments: "As an actor who grew up in the public eye and nurtured my craft in America, I adapt constantly. I crave mimicking others!"
When online observers noticed her dialect changes on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon', Brown clarified, "I can't help but adopt an American accent when around my fiancé or individuals like Jimmy Fallon. It's a natural inclination, not a deliberate act! I'm sorry if it offends, but I'm giving it my all. Truly, I am!"
Brown has also candidly spoken out against social media users and media outlets who have commented on her physical appearance during the promotional tour for her film 'The Electric State', branding these remarks as "bullying".
In a nearly three-minute video posted on her social media, Brown lambasted, "I've grown up under the world's gaze, yet people refuse to evolve with me. They expect me to remain a frozen image from 'Stranger Things' season one. Failing to conform to that outdated image has made me a target."
She further lambasted, "The fact that seasoned writers dedicate their time to dissecting my face, body, and choices is distressing. And it's even more distressing when these articles are penned by women. We advocate for empowering and uplifting young women, yet tearing them down for clicks proves all too tempting."
