People Won’t Stop Attacking *This* Famous Singer For Being “Ugly,” And It Marks A New Low For The Internet
I really never thought we’d need to have this conversation.
As all my friends can tell you, over the past few months, I've become obsessed with a pop singer-songwriter named Audrey Hobert.
She rose to fame through co-writing songs with Gracie Abrams, who is also her best friend. Many people (ahem, me) even assert that Audrey is the true genius behind Gracie's most-popular hits, like "Risk," "That's So True," and "I Love You, I'm Sorry."
So naturally, when Audrey Hobert released her self-written debut album Who's the Clown? in August 2025, it was guaranteed to be an exceptional project (you might be familiar with "Sue me" or "Thirst Trap"). Her hilariously honest lyrics and fast-paced singing style make her a unique addition to the pop-girl canon.
And when I say her lyrics are confessional, I mean it — they explore the deep insecurities many of us 20-something women are too scared to admit aloud. The song "Phoebe," for example, is literally about feeling awkward and unsexy, using Phoebe from Friends as a metaphor: "I think I've got a fucked-up face / And that thought used to haunt me / 'Til it fell in its sweet embrace / Now I don't sweat the acne / It's a bitch, but it goes away / And who cares if I'm pretty? / I feel like I'm Phoebe."
Now, almost a year after her debut album released, people are starting to really notice Audrey — she recently released "Sue me" as a single, and it marked her first entry onto the Billboard Hot 100 at number 98. Plus, she was recently featured on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert, a true rite of passage.
And side note: Funny enough, Audrey's brother Malcolm Todd is an alternative singer who is popular in his own regard. They rose to fame independently of one another, which, of course, led to pesky "industry plant" allegations. I'll admit, the fact that their dad is a TV writer doesn’t exactly help their case — they’re not quite nepo babies, but they’ve certainly grown up with one foot in the entertainment industry. Still, their careers are very much their own: They're both talented writers who’ve managed to skyrocket in totally different lanes of music.
Anyway, it should be fairly easy for Audrey to ignore those pesky "industry plant" allegations, especially if it's a bit of a stretch. However, as she rises in popularity, she's also been receiving a ton of backlash on a much more personal thing: her appearance.
An alarmingly large portion of the internet seem to be ignoring the quality of her music in favour of calling Audrey "ugly," or making fun of how she looks. People are adamant on slamming her appearance in a way I've never seen before, which is particularly horrible given that several of her songs directly reference this insecurity (in a beautifully poetic way, might I add).
Honestly? I can't help but label these criticisms as misogynistic. There's no chance in hell anyone would pick apart a rising, mega-talented male artist for his looks, at least not in the same way people have treated Audrey.
It pains me that I even have to write this, but LOOKS DON'T MATTER WHATSOEVER. I love Audrey and I think she's beautiful, but that's beside the point — what's most important is she's TALENTED, and her music helps women feel represented in a brand-new way. As a woman who's struggled with similar insecurities my whole life, it pains me to see people attempting to squash her sparkle.
Furthermore, by criticizing Audrey's appearance, I worry that these trolls will scare her into potentially holding back her admirably confessional, poetic songwriting, which has really resonated with women like me. But luckily, some fans are coming to her defense:
All in all, if I can urge everyone to do anything, it's to comment on the quality of Audrey's songwriting, not on her appearance — just as we'd do with literally any male artist out there. And in general, maybe don't judge people by how they look. I thought we all learned that lesson in grade 2, but I guess some of us must've missed class that day.
Keep on shining, Audrey!!!!!
What are your thoughts on these discussions surrounding Audrey Hobert? Tell me in the comments below.
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