Why do we only give famous men the benefit of the doubt?
Zac Efron went viral for last year for looking very different, however there’s an interesting reason that everyone has been so accepting.
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Our acceptance of Zac Efron’s changing face proves we love to give men the benefit of the doubt.
In 2022, Efron went viral because his face suddenly looked drastically different. People went crazy online, accusing him of getting extensive plastic surgery and looking unrecognisable. There was talk he had a chin implant and got his lips done.
Dis Zac Efron get lip injections? And jaw/chin implant?
— Noelia Towers (@noeliatowers) September 25, 2022
While his jaw looked noticeably bigger, his whole face looked tighter, and the internet was in a frenzy! Efron made a name for himself by being a dreamy teen star and now his face looked very different.
Efron quickly shut down the rumours that he’d had any cosmetic work done. He explained that he’d shattered his jaw in a terrible accident, and everyone felt bad and then moved on.
In an interview with Men’s Health, he explained he looked different because he smashed into a granite fountain that knocked him unconscious and when he woke up, he discovered his chin bone was, “hanging off his face.”
He attributed any changes to his face to his recovery from that accident.
A quick scan of his Instagram account will give you the sense that people have really let it go. There might be an odd comment pointing out how his face looks different, but mostly everyone is back to drooling at how hot Efron is.
To be fair, the fact he remains gorgeous doesn’t hurt.
Now if someone questions Efron’s new look, the majority of people on the internet are quick to protect the movie star and shame the person that has commented. It has become a no go zone.
zac efron literally had surgery for his SHATTERED JAW. leave the man alone.
— Jodi Eisenberg (@jodieisenberg) September 13, 2022
It’s an interesting acceptance when you compare it to the treatment of Khloe Kardashian. There’s no denying that her face also looks very different, and while she’s admitted to a nose job, she’s mostly maintained her face shape has changed due to weight loss.
In an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians, she addressed the rumours and said: “For me, everyone says, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s had her third face transplant,’ but I’ve had one nose job. And everyone gets so upset, why don’t I talk about it? No one’s ever asked me.”
Interestingly despite Kardashian giving an answer to her changing appearance just like Efron did, no one has accepted her explanation. Instead, every photo she posts on Instagram is filled with comments about her face looking different.
Her latest Instagram post is filled with fans either criticising her or voicing concern.
One commented, “When will you use your real face and body? Why edit the human out of yourself.” Another commented, “I do NOT recognise her.”
This is not about wondering if Efron or Kardashian is telling the truth; I’m more fascinated by how quickly we are to accept a man’s version of events and dismiss a woman’s.
Why is Efron’s face story believable and Kardashian's isn’t?
I think it is also worth noting that Efron’s career hasn’t been hindered by his changing face. He still seems to be booking big roles and just touched down in Australia to film an upcoming film with John Cena. Meanwhile, Kardashian can’t seem to do anything that overshadows the interest in her changed appearance.
They are two very famous and well-liked people. Yet, we only seem to believe the man in the situation and that says far too much about how we feel about women.