Lamiez Holworthy Responds to Body-Shaming Backlash

South African DJ and radio presenter Lamiez Holworthy has responded strongly to the backlash and body-shaming comments she received after recently being hospitalised and undergoing an emergency surgical procedure.

Taking to Facebook, Lamiez thanked everyone who supported her, checked on her and stood by her during what was clearly a difficult and frightening period. She also shared a picture of herself wearing a pink dress, the same picture that later became the subject of body-shaming comments.

Rather than staying silent, Lamiez addressed the criticism directly, explaining why she deliberately chose to wear the dress and what the picture represented to her.

“Ps. This very picture was used to try and body shame me and the jokes on that person because I DELIBERATELY said to my audience in Bloem that I wore that dress for a reason- to prove to them that I am normal-with cellulite and stretchmarks,that women in all shapes and sizes should embrace their bodies in whatever form.”

Lamiez made it clear that her changing body was never something she intended to conceal.

“I gained weight and wasn’t going to try and hide it.”

She questioned how another woman could use something as personal as her body to belittle her, particularly while she was dealing with a serious health crisis.

“So to have a woman try and use it to belittle me is even more insane! Women’s month hasn’t even ended yet Mama- didn’t you get the memo?”

Her response became even more pointed as she reflected on the timing of the comments, saying she was fighting for her life in hospital while the criticism was being directed at her.

“I cannot for the life of me, sit here and give SATAN anymore AirPlay.”

Lamiez also revealed just how serious her medical emergency had been, saying she nearly died twice within hours and had lost a significant amount of blood.

“How I am able to type this is a miracle when I nearly died twice in a span of hours.”

She added that her doctor had even considered a blood transfusion.

“Lost so much blood that my Dr was considering a blood transfusion is beyond me.”

Despite everything she had been through, Lamiez ended her message by turning her attention away from the negativity and towards healing.

“I’ll tell you this, Modimo o teng and ga nyake ka bana ba gae.”

She also offered a prayer for the woman involved, saying, “Please tell that woman I send her healing coz her case is a special one.”

Lamiez’s message ultimately centred on survival, self-acceptance and refusing to allow cruel comments to define her. After enduring a frightening medical ordeal, she made it clear that her focus is on healing rather than giving attention to people she believes are projecting their own issues onto her.

Her final words were equally personal as she wrote, “I pray she finds healing because I can’t begin to imagine how painful being a broken little girl walking around in a grownup’s body must be like.”