Jennifer Love Hewitt didn’t hold back as she fired back at critics who accused her of being “fake” in a selfie she posted on social media earlier this month.

The actress, best known for her role in Ghost Whisperer, shared an Instagram post that was originally uploaded by her hairstylist, Nikki Lee. The post showed Jennifer’s new look: a bob haircut and a deep brown color, which drew a variety of reactions from her followers. While many fans praised her new style, some internet users wasted no time in making comments suggesting the actress had altered her appearance through cosmetic procedures. Several of them even went so far as to label her “unrecognizable.”

The controversy arose after Jennifer had made a bold change, cutting her hair into a bob and opting for a darker hair color. Nikki Lee, who styled the new look, captioned the post: “Time to spice things up.” As is common when a celebrity changes their appearance, many followers flooded the comments section with opinions. While plenty of fans showered her with compliments, others focused on critiquing her look, with some accusing her of having work done to her face. As someone who first became famous with I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Jennifer has long been in the public eye, making her appearance a frequent subject of scrutiny.

Typically, celebrities choose to ignore negative comments and let the chatter die down, but Jennifer Love Hewitt took a different approach. Rather than staying silent, she decided to respond directly to the critics. In a post of her own, Jennifer shared a series of pictures that humorously referenced the idea that she had undergone cosmetic surgery to alter her appearance. “So many people said I look different,” she wrote, adding, “I look the same as always. Couldn’t look more natural. I woke up like this. Filters don’t change you that much.”

The actress added a playful twist to her response by posting exaggerated photos featuring filters over her face, making her look drastically different than she actually does. The tongue-in-cheek post poked fun at the notion that filters or surgery could be responsible for her new look. While some may have taken the filters as a joke, the underlying message Jennifer wanted to convey was clear: she was tired of people making assumptions about her appearance and encouraged people to be kinder in their comments.

Jennifer concluded her post with a powerful reminder to her followers: “Let people be filtered or unfiltered. Be good. Be kind. Spread love.” Her message resonated with many, as she highlighted the importance of kindness in online spaces and urged others to avoid passing judgment based on superficial impressions.

Earlier this year, Jennifer’s appearance was also scrutinized when she posted a picture to celebrate her 44th birthday. In the post, she wrote about feeling grateful and reflective on her life. “Woke up at 4am and was 44! I am deeply grateful, blessed, happy, sometimes insecure about aging, a mom of three incredible babies, married to the most handsome and awesome man, and really excited to see what this year has for us,” she wrote.

Despite the positive and heartfelt tone of her birthday post, many followers still left comments expressing surprise at how different she looked. One fan confessed, “I saw this picture in an article and thought they made a mistake because I didn’t believe it was JLH, I didn’t even see a resemblance.” Another follower echoed this sentiment, writing, “Why doesn’t she look like herself? I’m so confused.” Yet another commenter questioned, “That’s not her, it can’t be.”

For Jennifer, this constant scrutiny of her appearance—whether it be her hair, age, or general look—has become an ongoing challenge. But rather than letting the negativity bring her down, she’s used her platform to encourage positivity and self-acceptance, sending a clear message to her followers: be kind, avoid making snap judgments, and remember that everyone has their own journey with aging and self-image.

Jennifer’s response to the trolls serves as a reminder that we should all be more mindful of how we talk about others online. In a world that often values appearance over substance, Jennifer Love Hewitt is challenging her audience to focus on kindness, love, and authenticity—qualities that truly define beauty.