Lela Rochon Shuts Down Body-Shaming Comments

A Conversation with Sherri Shepherd

Lela Rochon, the talented actress known for her roles in “Waiting to Exhale” and “Boomerang,” recently stopped by the “Sherri” show to discuss the 30th anniversary of the 1995 film and her new project “The Family Business: New Orleans.” During her February 19 chat with host Sherri Shepherd, Rochon took a moment to address the body-shaming comments she’s received over the years.

Lela Rochon shuts down talk about weight loss transformation over the years. (Photo: @iamlelarochon/Instagram)

A Change in Appearance

Since starring in 1990s classics like “Why Do Fools Fall In Love,” “Boomerang,” and “Harlem Nights,” longtime fans of Rochon have noticed a change in her “bombshell” appearance. The noticeable shift has caused fans to leave nasty and shameless comments about her weight gain under her photos. Some even speculated the change was a result of heartbreak due to her film director husband Antoine Fuqua’s cheating scandal.

A Response to Body-Shaming

While Rochon has rarely, if ever, responded to the body-shaming gibes, she took the opportunity on Shepherd’s show to do so. When addressing her haters who have had something to say about how different she looks now, Rochon paused and said, “So all y’all that be saying ‘She don’t look the same,’ don’t expect me to look the same. It’s been 30 years.”

A Discussion on the Sequel

After acknowledging that “Waiting to Exhale” turns 30 years old this year, Shepherd asked Rochon what the chances are that the world will see a sequel to the beloved film. Rochon responded, “We were going to and you know unfortunately Whitney [Houston] passed and then Fox has the rights and they were going to do it.” The 60-year-old said she had her own ideas for what the second film should focus on. “I thought it should be about our children and then we sort of move in and out. Because my daughter that I had in the movie would be 30 now,” she explained.

A Message to Her Fans

Shepherd responded, “You look the same-ish” and Rochon laughed along adding, “-ish. I like that!” The clip was reposted by Golden Era Stories on Instagram, where fans showed their support for Rochon.

Reactions from Fans

One person said, “Mama is still tea don’t get it twisted.” A second person wrote, “Who’s complaining? She’s still a beautiful woman. She looks good and healthy at her age.” “She’s looking healthier and happier and looks great. Normalise getting older it’s a blessing,” wrote a third. A fourth pointed out the double standards of how male celebrities are treated when it comes to beauty standards versus female celebrities.

Conclusion

Rochon’s response to body-shaming and her message to her fans are a powerful reminder that women should not be held to unrealistic beauty standards. It’s time to normalize getting older and celebrate the beauty that comes with it.

FAQs

Q: What is Lela Rochon’s new project?
A: “The Family Business: New Orleans”

Q: What is the 30th anniversary of “Waiting to Exhale”?
A: This year

Q: Has Lela Rochon confirmed a sequel to “Waiting to Exhale”?
A: No, but she has expressed interest in exploring a sequel idea that focuses on the children of the original characters.