Emily Ratajkowski has addressed a public disagreement involving Australian comedian Celeste Barber, asking her to stop recreating her Instagram photos. The issue has drawn attention to wider debates about consent, satire and how women are treated online.
Ratajkowski is a model, actress and author who has built a high profile career through fashion, film and social media. She has also used her platform to speak openly about sexism in the entertainment industry and the pressure placed on women because of their appearance.
Celeste Barber rose to fame by parodying celebrity Instagram posts. Her recreations mimic glamorous poses using everyday settings, a style that has gained her millions of followers and widespread praise for challenging unrealistic beauty standards.
She has previously recreated posts by stars including Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Bella Hadid.
Among the celebrities frequently featured in Barber’s content was Ratajkowski.
In 2021, Barber recreated one of her bikini photos and captioned it, “We are sick of you objectifying our bodies! Also, here’s my a**.” While many viewers found the post humorous, Ratajkowski was reportedly unhappy.
Barber later revealed that Ratajkowski blocked her on Instagram. Speaking on the Fitzy and Wippa radio show, Barber said, “I don’t think Emily is a fan. That’s okay, she’s allowed to not love it. But she blocked me.”
Ratajkowski later explained her position on her High Low with EmRata podcast. She said the situation had been exaggerated but confirmed she had asked Barber to stop mimicking her. “I just don’t want you to do this to me anymore,” she said, adding that she was withdrawing her consent for the joke.
She stressed that her objection was not personal and that she found Barber funny in general. However, she said the parody landed at a sensitive time and conflicted with her efforts to control her own image and narrative.
Ratajkowski also linked the issue to a broader pattern of women being dismissed online. She argued that female influencers are often mocked in ways that are rooted in s*xism. “We really love to pick on female influencers like they are considered the trash, lamest, most cringe people on the planet,” she said.
She added that influencing is one of the ways women have learned to be financially successful. “Women want to be influencers. It’s one of the ways that women have learned to make money. They’re hustling.”
Barber later defended her approach in interviews, saying she values free expression and humor. The exchange has since sparked wider discussion about parody, boundaries and the role of consent in digital culture, with Ratajkowski’s request placing those issues firmly in the spotlight.
Featured Image Credit: (Teen Vogue)
