In brief
A controversial TikTok video by cosmetic doctor Dr. Zayn Khalid Majeed critiquing Troye Sivan's appearance drew ire from fans and the singer himself, prompting an apology and discussions about body image standards in celebrity culture. Majeed expressed regret over his comments, emphasizing a need for more positive representation and responsible content creation moving forward.
A cosmetic doctor who faced a backlash over a video picking apart pop star Troye Sivan's appearance says he feels terrible for upsetting the singer - but will continue to post.
London-based Dr. Zayn Khalid Majeed posted a two-minute clip drawing attention to the 30-year-old's problem areas following an appearance at a recent event in Australia.
Fans criticised the unsolicited advice, and the singer himself responded with an essay explaining how the video had triggered long-held insecurities about his body.
Since deleting the video and contacting Sivan to apologise, Majeed tells BBC Newsbeat he will try to make a more positive impact with his content.
Sivan, whose career began when he was a teenager, is regarded by many as a poster boy for the twink look...
In the video, which compared studio images of the singer with recent footage from a red carpet interview, Majeed said Sivan appeared to be showing signs of twink death.
People on social media and fans of Sivan criticised Majeed's unsolicited advice on ways to retwinkify himself.
The singer himself then got involved, posting on blogging platform Substack about how the video had heightened his insecurities and pushed him towards considering cosmetic surgery.
Newsbeat reached out to Majeed, who said Sivan's response was incredibly raw and vulnerable.
Majeed deleted the videos from his TikTok and Instagram, and Sivan later updated his blog to say there were no hard feelings from [his] side.
However, Majeed says he will continue to make videos that analyse celebrity faces because he believes there is an appetite for them.
Despite the backlash, there have been varying opinions regarding makeup channels and cosmetic critique, particularly how it can affect body image and self-perception among viewers.
