Having risen to fame in the late ’90s, Jennifer Love Hewitt was among the many starlets caught in the crosshairs of bubblegum misogyny in the early aughts, particularly when it came to tabloid media and paparazzi.
In a sprawling profile with Vulture tied to the return of scream queen Julie James in the legacy sequel I Know What You Did Last Summer, Hewitt said she only recently realized she experienced sexism en masse while viewing the documentary Framing Britney Spears, which exposes the harsh treatment the singer received from the public and media at the height of her fame and conservatorship.
“When I started watching it, I was like, ‘Oh, they talked to me like that, oh.’ I started crying for her. And then I realized I was crying for me,” the actress said.
The 9-1-1 mainstay said the reality of her experience “bothers” her moreso now as she realized “before I even knew what sex was, I was a sex symbol.” She continued of that era of pop culture: “All of a sudden, the pictures were of actresses stumbling out of clubs drunk. It was them at the grocery store looking terrible. It opened this very scary door.”
Hewitt added, “I don’t put blame on the people asking [inappropriate] questions. Nobody was saying, ‘Don’t talk to women like that. Don’t talk to little girls like that.’ But I worked hard on [I Know What You Did Last Summer]. I brought good stuff to it, and no one was talking about it. It was just ‘Boob, boob, boob’ everywhere. I didn’t just show up to wear the little blue top and run around,” referencing her iconic wardrobe from the 1997 original.
“I remember seeing the top for the first time, and I was like, ‘This is a small shirt. What’s happening here? We’re just going to let it fly? OK, great. Here we go. Running again. There they go! Bouncy-bounce! ’” she recalled. While at the Australian press junket for the slasher, Hewitt attempted to make a point by wearing a T-shirt that read “Silicone-free.” She said, “I was like, ‘I’ve had it.’ I wore that shirt, and I felt so empowered. And then, of course, nobody cared. I really wanted to be a good actor, and I was trying to give to the people watching. I was trying to outact the conversation around my body.”
Hewitt also recalled a particular low point that came as a result of an infamous People cover featuring the headline “Stop Calling Me Fat!” and paparazzi photos taken during a vacation: “I was having the time of my life … and they got the picture and then it was on the cover,” she remembered. “I don’t think I was ever really insecure until that cover. And then when it happened, I don’t know that I’ve ever recovered from it.”
The Heartbreakers star said she credits her role in 9-1-1 and the opportunity to return to her IKWYDLS character as avenues that are more about her “body of work” rather than her body. Though initially hesitant to return to the horror franchise because of audiences’ opinions on her age and if Julie’s characterization would be done justice in the requel, Hewitt said it was “healing” to step back on set, especially with a wardrobe she could control: “Nobody’s going to be talking about my boobs. ‘Oh, you want me to flash you? They’re down here.’”
Released July 18 in theaters, the reboot follows a new cast of young people — Chase Sui Wonders, Madelyn Cline, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon and Jonah Hauer-King — in Southport, who receive a threatening anonymous message about their actions the summer prior. Facing a maniacal, fish hook-wielding murderer, they seek advice from the survivors of the last bout of violence in their seaside town: Hewitt’s Julie and Freddie Prinze Jr.’s Ray.
After Being Body-Shamed On The Red Carpet, Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Words On Being Objectified Are So Bleak
All the men commenting on her teenage chest…straight to jail.
Jennifer Love Hewitt opened up about the misogyny and constant comments on her body she’s faced over the years.
Jennifer was only 16 when she filmed her movie breakout role, I Know What You Did Last Summer, following a successful run on the Fox show Party of Five. Unfortunately, being a child didn’t stop her from being subjected to objectification (see: Jay Leno asking her about her love life and when she’ll turn 17).
The now-46-year-old is reprising her role in a sequel of the horror movie, with images from the red carpet already going viral on the worst parts of the internet. Speaking to Vulture, she said she had to be talked into the movie by her friends, noting, “What people were going to say about how much older I would seem than when I was 18. That’s literally the only thing I was anxious about.”
On the commentary surrounding her teenage body, she reflected, “It bothers me more now than it did at that age because I was in it. Before I even knew what sex was, I was a sex symbol. I still don’t know that I have that fully defined for myself because it started so weird.”
Looking back on that 1996 Jay Leno interview, she said, “I was trying to be like, I’m not overly sexy! I’m a nerd! I’ve referred to myself a lot as a dork, and I wasn’t aware of it at that time but, looking back, that was my way of saying, ‘That’s not me.’”
“I don’t put blame on the people asking those questions,” she added. “Nobody was saying, ‘Don’t talk to women like that. Don’t talk to little girls like that.’ But I worked hard on that movie. I brought good stuff to it, and no one was talking about it. It was just ‘Boob, boob, boob’ everywhere.”
Things got worse when People ran paparazzi photos of her in 2007 with the headline “Stop Calling Me Fat.” The actor, who notes that she no longer eats carbs, reflected, “I don’t think I was ever really insecure until that cover. And then when it happened, I don’t know that I’ve ever recovered from it…Because there’s a part of me that’s always like, Is this version going to be good enough, or is that going to happen again? Where somebody’s going to be like, ‘Hey, this is her without makeup at the cleaners. She looks 59.’”
On the upside, Jennifer got to work on the new IKWYDLS wardrobe, along with the director and her stylist, which she called “healing.” She said, “Nobody’s going to be talking about my boobs. ‘Oh, you want me to flash you? They’re down here.’”
Jennifer Love Hewitt says she has ‘not talked’ to Sarah Michelle Gellar since she was 18 amid feud rumors
Both actresses returned to the ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ franchise but weren’t photographed together at premiere
Jennifer Love Hewitt revealed she hasn’t spoken to Sarah Michelle Gellar for almost three decades, breaking her silence on rumors of a feud with her “I Know What You Did Last Summer” co-star.
In a recent interview with Vulture, the 46-year-old actress downplayed online speculation of a falling out with Gellar, 48. However, Hewitt shared that she hadn’t seen or communicated with Gellar, 48, since she was 18 when the hit 1997 slasher film was released.
“I honestly don’t even know what that was or how that all came to be,” Hewitt said of the rumored bad blood between her and the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alum.
Jennifer Love Hewitt, left, spoke out about her rumored feud with Sarah Michelle Gellar. (Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)
“I just think people don’t want the narrative to be easy,” she added. “Why do we always have to be against each other and out for each other?
“I haven’t seen Sarah,” the former “Party of Five” star added. “Literally, we’ve not talked since I saw her at 18 years old when the first movie came out. That’s why it’s so funny to me. People were like, ‘Say something back.’ And I’m like, ‘What am I going to say? I’ve not seen her.’ On my side, we’re good. I have no idea where this is coming from.”
Hewitt played the lead character of Julie James in “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and reprised her role in the 1998 sequel, “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.” The actress made a surprise return to the franchise in its fourth installment, “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” which was released Friday.
The two co-starred alongside Freddie Prinze Jr. and Ryan Phillipe in 1997’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” (Columbia Pictures/Getty Images)
Gellar’s husband, Freddie Prinze Jr.,, who portrayed Julie’s love interest, Ray Bronson, in the original films, also reprised his role in the 2025 sequel.
Neither star appeared in the direct-to-video 2006 standalone sequel, “I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer,” or the short-lived 2022 TV series, “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”
Gellar and Ryan Phillipe co-starred in the original movie alongside Hewitt and Prinze Jr. However, they did not return for the following “I Know What You Did Last Summer” projects after the first movie since both of their characters, beauty queen Helen Shivers and boyfriend Barry Cox were killed off.
However, Gellar made a brief cameo appearance during a dream sequence in the latest installment. On Monday, “The Ghost Whisperer” star accompanied Prinze Jr. to the premiere of the movie, which was also attended by Hewitt.
Prinze Jr. and Hewitt reprised their roles in the 1998 and 2025 sequels. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
During Hewitt’s interview with Vulture ahead of the premiere, the actress was asked if she planned to see Gellar at the event.
“I hope so,” she told the outlet.
After the premiere, social media users pointed out that Gellar and Hewitt did not appear in red carpet photos together. After being questioned by fans about the rumored feud, Gellar later confirmed she didn’t encounter Hewitt at the event, though she praised her former co-star.
“For everyone asking – I never got to see @jenniferlovehewitt who is fantastic in the movie.,” Gellar wrote on Instagram. “I was inside with my kids when the big carpet happened. And unfortunately JLH didn’t come to the after party.
“If you have ever been to one of these it’s crazy,” she added. “I sadly didn’t get pics with most of the cast. But that doesn’t change how amazing I think they all are. Unfortunately some things happen only in real life and not online”
Jennifer Love Hewitt posed separately for photos on the red carpet at the sequel’s premiere. (Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage)
Speculation of a feud between actresses began to swirl in December 2024, when Gellar was asked by an “Extra” reporter about Hewitt’s potential return for the 2025 movie.
“I have nothing to do with that,” she said before abruptly ending the interview.
Gellar later took to her Instagram story to explain her response was due to her wariness over violating a non-disclosure agreement that prohibited her from spoiling casting announcements.
“Aspiring actors, please note: This ‘deer in the headlights’ reaction is perfect for when you are excited to see so many old friends in one project but have already stupidly forgotten what NDA means once this month,” she wrote alongside a photo taken on the movie’s set.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, who had a cameo in the movie, accompanied her husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., who played one of the leads. (Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)
That same month, Hewitt confirmed she would be reprising her role in the sequel with a post on Instagram.
In April, Gellar further fueled speculation of bad blood between her and Hewitt when she shared the trailer for 2025’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” tagging members of the main cast, including Prinze Jr., Madelyn Cline, Gabbriette Bechtel, Sarah Pidgeon and Chase Sui Wonders and director/screenwriter Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and co-screenwriter Sam Lansky but notably leaving out Hewitt.
While some fans on social media took the omission as a definitive sign of a feud between the stars, a few Reddit commentators noted that Hewitt has activated an Instagram feature that prevents her account from being tagged by other users.
Social Media Defends Jennifer Love Hewitt From Body Shamers After I Know What You Did Last Summer Premiere Appearance
The scream queen of a generation is back, and she’s done hiding.
Jennifer Love Hewitt, 46, made a jaw-dropping return to the red carpet on Monday night, July 14, stepping out for the world premiere of the 2025 sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer, held at the United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles. Photos of the actress ignited a firestorm across social media, not just for her bold fashion statement, but because the ‘90s icon debuted an unexpected new look: a ginger-red hair color that sent the internet spiraling.
This rare red carpet appearance marks one of Love Hewitt’s first major public outings in years and it didn’t disappoint.
“JLH is thick now! Remember in the 90s when they were obsessed with her rack,” one Twitter user wrote, setting off a storm of praise, outrage, and nostalgia.
The Comeback of a Final Girl
Hewitt, once the brunette bombshell of the late ‘90s slasher era, famously anchored the original I Know What You Did Last Summer in 1997, a box-office hit that cemented her as one of Hollywood’s brightest young stars. Now, nearly three decades later, she’s returning to the blood-soaked saga as Julie James, a woman haunted by more than just the past.
The 2025 sequel, releasing July 18, brings fresh blood and familiar faces. And yes, she’s still got lungs made for screaming.
The new installment follows five modern-day friends entangled in a fatal accident, whose cover-up sets off a deadly chain of events eerily reminiscent of the legendary Southport Massacre. As their group is picked off one by one, they enlist the help of two survivors: Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr., who reprise their iconic roles.
Synopsis: When five friends inadvertently cause a deadly car accident, they cover up their involvement and make a pact to keep it a secret rather than face the consequences. A year later, their past comes back to haunt them and they’re forced to confront a horrifying truth: someone knows what they did last summer… and is hell-bent on revenge.
Directed by Do Revenge filmmaker Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the film promises to blend horror nostalgia with sharp social commentary and sleek new visuals. The story was developed by Robinson and Leah McKendrick, with a screenplay by Robinson and Sam Lansky. Produced by Neal H. Moritz, the film features a fresh, buzzy cast: Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, and Austin Nichols, alongside returning franchise royalty.
A Message to the Fans and to the Haters
On July 3rd, Hewitt took to Instagram to express her love for the film and for Robinson, who she calls the “bad ass boss” that made it all possible.
“I Know What You Did Last Summer is almost here! July 18th you will get to see it! Before you do I need to give a shoutout to our director! @jennkaytin is a force,” she wrote.
“She loves the original movie and wanted you to see that in this new one! We are on screen and the posters but her heart and hard work is in every frame.”
It’s a rare glimpse into Hewitt’s behind-the-scenes pride and her intentional decision to give credit where it’s due, especially to women directors making waves in a genre long dominated by men.
Hollywood Ageism, Body Politics, and Being “Unfuckable”
Though many fans celebrated her red carpet glow-up, some users dredged up a familiar and tired trope: criticizing a woman’s body for aging naturally.
Social media reactions to her appearance ranged from overtly sexual to aggressively ageist. One user cruelly fixated on how “she no longer has the body of a fucking teenager,” prompting a wave of defenders to step in.
“Imagine being a grown ass man looking at a middle-aged woman with CHILDREN and the first thing your worm brain comes up with is how she no longer has the body of a fucking teenager,” one user tweeted. “Every single one of you belongs on a list.”
“Black people complimenting her curves while white men (and some white women) are calling her fat. Lol…” another pointed out, highlighting a cultural divide in body standards.
“Thick or thin she will always make me
,” another person wrote unapologetically.
“She felt good in what she was wearing. That’s all that matters,” a fan chimed in, with the now-viral quote: “Oh she ate that. Body tea, hair laid, face card activated yes.”
Hewitt has not directly responded to the online commentary, but she’s previously spoken out against the pressures placed on women to remain “frozen in time.”
In an interview with Fox News, she addressed the persistent ageism she faces in Hollywood.
“Whatever it is, you just want to have the freedom to be whoever you are at that age,” she said. “And it’s hurtful sometimes when people reject you as you are verbally on Instagram or the internet because they’re having a hard time adjusting to it.”
A New Era of Horror and Hewitt’s Second Act
With Jennifer Kaytin Robinson behind the camera, the 2025 I Know What You Did Last Summer doesn’t just reboot a franchise. It reclaims it. Gone are the days of helpless final girls running in high heels. This is a generation of horror that’s self-aware, feminist, and fiercely stylish.
The film’s premiere wasn’t just a return to horror. It was a reclamation of narrative, of womanhood, of being seen.
Jennifer Love Hewitt didn’t just show up. She showed out, and she brought a whole damn legacy with her.
The 2025 sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer hits theaters July 18th.
Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Secret To Staying ‘Fit And Healthy’ At 46 As She Receives Praise For Her ‘Curves’
Jennifer Love Hewitt seemingly doesn’t care about Hollywood beauty standards and reportedly maintains a healthier approach to fitness and diet.
In a world where celebrities are subscribing to the ozempic craze to maintain a slimmed-down figure, Hewitt prefers “exercise that builds muscle” and “doesn’t ever deny herself anything” when it comes to her diet.
Jennifer Love Hewitt recently made a rare appearance on the red carpet for the premiere of “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and was met with praise for her figure.
Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Approach To Health And Wellness Revealed
Hewitt doesn’t subscribe to the pressure Hollywood has put on many stars like herself to achieve a trimmed-down physique.
The 46-year-old star turned heads on the red carpet for the premiere of “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” but was heavily body-shamed for her looks.
However, sources close to Hewitt have now revealed that she maintains a “fit and healthy” lifestyle despite what detractors are saying.
“Jennifer is all about balance when it comes to her daily meals and workout plans,” a source told the Daily Mail, adding that the mother-of-three “doesn’t ever deny herself anything.”
“Rather than push herself to extreme measures, she takes it all in her stride and feels much happier and confident that way,” the insider continued. “When it comes to working out, she loves mixing things up, Pilates and yoga, and other forms of strength training.”
The Actress Loves Building Muscles
According to the news outlet, the “Ghost Whisperer” actress seems to prefer strength training when she exercises.
“She loves exercise that builds muscle, keeping her feeling strong for her kids, which is more important than anything else,” the source said.
They added, “It’s all about eating healthy foods that are rich in nutrients. Her secret has been not bowing to any pressure or beauty standard put upon actresses in Hollywood and instead feeling confident and comfortable in her own skin.”
Fans Praise Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Body
After appearing on the red carpet of the new film in a black beaded dress, fans took to social media to praise Hewitt for her appearance and blast those who had criticized her body.
“She looks good. I like the fact she didn’t mess up her face with fillers and plastic surgery,” a fan wrote on X.
“I think she’s gonna be the one who sets the trend back to it’s okay to age gracefully. I’m so sick of seeing the plastic faces and bodies,” another person commented.
“She should be applauded for looking normal. She doesn’t look like a space alien with plastic surgery,” a third person wrote on X.
“I am a Jennifer Love Hewitt fan. It saddens me to see petty b-tches online fat shaming a woman who is 46 and has three kids,” another fan stated. “In my opinion, she looks amazing. You get older. You gain weight. It happens. Many people look jacked up on plastic surgery. She looks great.”
Hewitt seemed unbothered by people trolling her and took to Instagram to share more videos of herself promoting the movie.
“Okay, here I am. I’m getting ready to do a very important podcast, can you guess? What are you waiting for?” she said in the video while winking and using her famous catchphrase from the film.
The Actress Opened Up About Harsh Remarks She Has Faced
In February, Hewitt shared her take on how women are subjected to cruel treatments as they age, noting that women actually become more beautiful the older they get.
“I have experienced and seen how the world can be cruel to women as they age and yet seen the women I admire become happier, sexier, and more powerful with every added number,” she captioned the post on Instagram.
Hewitt added, “I am so deeply grateful for this life. I love all who choose to do it by my side, and I am ready to give love today to the younger me and the older me because they are my ride or dies.”
Jennifer Love Hewitt Slams ‘Gross’ Men Who Sexualized Her As A Teenager
During a chat with Mayim Bialik on her “Breakdown” podcast, Hewitt reflected on the unsettling experience of being overly sexualized as a teenager, recalling how it was once normalized in Hollywood.
The actress talked about the inappropriate attention she received in her early years and how unsettling it was for her.
“There were grown men talking to me at 16 about my breasts openly on a talk show, and people were laughing about it,” she shared. “It was a culture that was fully accepted, but when you sit and you look at where we are now versus then, it is really mind-blowing.”
Hewitt admitted that being labeled a “sex symbol” before she even understood the concept felt “really strange,” adding, “I didn’t know what being sexy meant.”
She recalled how men would approach her with unsettling remarks after posing for Maxim in 1999 at just 17.
“People would openly walk up and be like, ‘I took your magazine with me on a trip last week,” Hewitt said, per The Blast. “I didn’t really know what that meant. It’s kind of gross.”
Jennifer Love Hewitt makes heartbreaking confession about her body: ‘I’ve never recovered’
Jennifer Love Hewitt has been an icon since she found fame in the 90s, and with her rising recognition, she became known as a “sex symbol” to many.
However, the 9-1-1 actress, 46, has admitted that the added attention on her body left her feeling “insecure”.
Sex symbol
“It bothers me more now than it did at that age because I was in it,” Jennifer told Vulture.
“Before I even knew what sex was, I was a sex symbol. I still don’t know that I have that fully defined for myself because it started so weird.”
© FilmMagic, IncJennifer said that she “really wanted to be a good actor,” but there became so much focus on her appearance that she began “trying to outact the conversation around my body”.
Jennifer started to become hyper-aware of her body in 2007 after photos of her wearing a bikini in the ocean while vacationing with her then-fiancé Ross McCall surfaced alongside the headline, “Stop Calling Me Fat!”
Body shaming
© Getty Images“I was having the time of my life. I had made up the dumbest song about eating snacks and playing in the ocean, and I was singing it to my boyfriend out loud, doing some weird dance move, and they got the picture, and then it was on the cover,” she explained.
Jennifer admitted that seeing the headline left her heartbroken. “I don’t think I was ever really insecure until that cover. And then when it happened, I don’t know that I’ve ever recovered from it.”
She added: “Because there’s a part of me that’s always like, ‘Is this version going to be good enough, or is that going to happen again?’ Where somebody’s going to be like, ‘Hey, this is her without makeup at the cleaners. She looks 59.'”
© Getty ImagesThinking about why those photos still affect her today, Jennifer explained: “Because that was me. I think that’s why the insecurity carried on. I don’t know if I’ve even ever put that together for myself other than right now.”
After experiencing body shaming following the photos, Jennifer turned to her mother for support.
“She was like, ‘You don’t get it. You can’t win. This is just people having a problem with the version of you they think belongs to them,'” she said of her mom’s advice. “And she said, ‘Take your power back. Belong to yourself, and don’t worry about it.'”
© InstagramJennifer certainly appears to have taken her power back and looked incredible and confident at the I Know What You Did Last Summer premiere in Los Angeles on July 14.
Jennifer confirmed in December that she has reprised her role of Julie James in the slasher series, 26 years after starring in 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer and its 1998 follow-up, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.
© Getty ImagesThe official synopsis for the film reads: “When five friends inadvertently cause a deadly car accident, they cover up their involvement and make a pact to keep it a secret rather than face the consequences.
“A year later, their past comes back to haunt them and they’re forced to confront a horrifying truth: someone knows what they did last summer… and is hell-bent on revenge. As one by one the friends are stalked by a killer, they discover this has happened before, and they turn to two survivors of the massacre of 1997 for help.”
