Taylor Lautner took to social media to defend his former co-star and rumored ex, Selena Gomez, against body shamers online.

In an Instagram story, Taylor shared a post from influencer Alex Light, who highlighted side-by-side photos of Selena Gomez at the SAG Awards in 2024 and 2025. The post also incorporated mean comments from netizens, with one criticizing Selena for being "big" in the 2024 photo and another suggesting that "skinnier isn't prettier" in the 2025 image.

Alex first slammed the bashers in the caption, emphasizing that it's not just about the pop star but also about the unrealistic standards placed on all women.

"This isn’t just about Selena, it’s about the impossible standards placed on all women - in the public eye or not. No matter what we do, someone will have an opinion. So let’s remind ourselves: our bodies are ours, not up for public discussion,” the influencer wrote.

Taylor reacted to this, emphasizing how it truly is a cruel world.

"It's a cruel world full of hate out there. You can never please everyone nor should you have to," the actor wrote.

He went on to share his own experience, admitting that the words do hurt, but they ultimately teach you what truly matters.

"In my experience it doesn’t make the words sting less, it just refocuses you onto what matters. And it sure isn’t the shape, color, or appearance of your body,” Taylor pointed out.

Taylor also encouraged his followers to recognize their worth and, more importantly, to be kind to others.

"Daily reminder to all of us to not forget how beautiful you are inside and out," he added. "And be a little bit nicer."

Adding to this, the Twilight franchise star shared Selena’s song "Who Says" in the social media story, which also carries a meaningful message about loving yourself.

Taylor himself has experienced the impact of being body-shamed.

In 2016, some of his photos went viral, with people noticing his body had changed since his time in the hit Twilight movies, pointing out that he had become larger compared to his toned physique during the films.

He earlier revealed on his podcast, The Squeeze, that his iconic role as the werewolf Jacob Black had a lasting impact on how he felt about his body and self-image.

“When I was in it, when I was 16 through 20 years old, starring in this franchise where my character is known for taking his shirt off every other second, no, I did not know that it was affecting me or going to affect me in the future with body image. But now, looking back at it, of course it did, and of course it is going to,” he revealed.

The Hollywood star added that at a young age, he was asked to bulk up and eat a lot to maintain the toned physique.

“That wasn’t my natural body. I had to work very hard for it and very, very hard to maintain it,” Taylor pointed out.

Years ago, he also shared some of the mean comments he received on his Instagram account, expressing how hurtful and rude the comments were during a television appearance.

But Taylor also highlighted that he is more confident now, and those comments wouldn't get under his skin the way they used to, “If this was 10 years ago, five years ago, maybe even two or three years ago, that really would have gotten under my skin.”

In the meantime, Taylor previously teased an upcoming project on his Instagram, sharing a report from Variety titled Taylor Lautner: Werewolf Hunter. Based on the reported logline, it seems Taylor will be playing a stylized, exaggerated version of himself, fighting the very creatures that made him famous.

“Just when I thought I was out…they pull me back in,” Taylor captioned.