Swedish model receives rape threats for unshaven legs in Adidas campaign

A Swedish model has received rape threats after appearing in an Adidas campaign with unshaven legs.

Arvida Bystrom, 26, posted on Instagram that her inbox started filling up with “nasty comments” and “rape threats” because of the hair on her legs.

“My photo from the @adidasoriginals superstar campaign got a lot of nasty comments last week,” she wrote.

“Me being such an abled, white, cis body with its only nonconforming feature being a lil leg hair.

“Literally I've been getting rape threats in my DM inbox. Sending love and try to remember that not everybody has the same experiences being a person.”

The campaign, which was released in September, features the Swedish photographer and model dressed in a corset style dress with a pink top underneath.

But it’s her legs that certain online users have taken offence to, with some labelling her “hideous” and a “feminist degenerate” for proudly displaying her leg hair.

This is not the first time that Bystrom has found herself the target of online abuse and body shaming.

She regularly posts photos proudly displaying her unshaven armpits and legs, in an attempt to question gender standards and the definition of femininity.

Hate-filled comments are quick to follow, with many users labelling her a “monkey” and telling her to “shave her legs”.

“Wtf is wrong with you girl?” writes one user.

Another describes her as “another kid screaming for attention on the internet.”

Despite all the negativity and body shaming, the support for Bystrom also comes in thick and fast, with many online users praising her bravery in defying beauty conventions.

“Thank you for embracing your body fearlessly,” applauds one user.

“I think that it's very sad that people criticize others about their bodies. Nobody should be telling you to shave because that's your decision. Please keep on defying gender and body norms because you are beautiful no matter what.”

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