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Sombr Opens Up About Body Image Issues & ‘Lifelong Struggle’ With Eating
Pop singer sombr has spoken candidly about his body image struggles and disordered eating in a new interview with Variety, published as part of its Power of Young Hollywood issue. The 21-year-old, whose real name has drawn attention alongside a striking, slender frame standing well over six feet tall, said he wanted fans who admire him to know he does not always feel positive about his own body, describing the admission as important given his openness in his music, particularly on the recent single "My Body Isn't Ready."
He told Variety he has "issues with eating," sometimes finding it hard to choose food or feel any cravings, and admitted that eating can occasionally make him feel like he wants to be sick. He said he often eats "against my will" before shows purely to have enough energy to perform, calling it a "lifelong struggle." The interview follows past incidents of online scrutiny over his appearance, including a viral TikTok comparing him to "Slenderman," which he previously condemned as body-shaming. It also comes shortly after he performed at the Songwriters Hall of Fame's induction of Taylor Swift, who praised him during her speech.
In short
- Sombr reveals ongoing struggles with body image and disordered eating.
- Says he often eats "against my will" before shows for energy.
- Follows past online body-shaming incidents and a Taylor Swift Hall of Fame tribute.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Artists speaking openly about mental health struggles, including eating disorders and body image issues, serves an important public health function. By sharing their experiences, they reduce stigma, help fans recognise they are not alone, and contribute to normalising mental health conversations. Their platform gives them an opportunity to use their influence responsibly to support broader cultural understanding of these issues.
The case against
When high-profile figures discuss eating disorders and body image struggles publicly, there is a genuine risk of triggering vulnerable individuals or inadvertently normalising harmful behaviours. Given that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and predominantly affect young people who idolise celebrities, there are legitimate concerns about duty of care and whether such disclosures might inspire copycat behaviour or unhealthy focus on the artist's appearance.
Explained simply
Sombr is the stage name of a young American pop singer who writes and performs his own songs. Body image concerns and disordered eating involve difficult feelings about one’s body and problems with eating; they can affect people of different sizes and are not always visible to others.
Sombr has discussed these experiences in interviews and in his music, including the song “My Body Isn’t Ready”. His comments come amid public attention to his appearance, including hurtful comparisons on social media. The issue matters because it shows how body scrutiny and struggles with eating can affect performers as well as their audiences.