Chrissy Teigen has once again found herself at the center of an online debate, this time over the color of her bathwater. The controversy began when her husband, John Legend, shared a video on Instagram on June 17, showing Teigen in a bathtub filled with brown water. Legend captioned the post, “Sometimes you gotta exfoliate! @chrissyteigen’s favorite @loved01skin product,” promoting an exfoliating wash from his skincare line, Loved01.
In the video, Legend asks Teigen, “What is happening here?” to which she responds, “Getting all my body makeup off,” while scrubbing her leg. Despite her explanation, the comments section quickly filled with criticism and confusion over the appearance of the water. One user commented, “IDGAF if it is makeup. It looks dirty,” while another added, “She didn’t have to sit in a bathtub of water to exfoliate her body…yuck.”
Teigen, known for her quick wit and willingness to engage with her followers, didn’t let the criticism slide. She jumped into the comments to clarify, “The water is dirty because I’m getting my body makeup off, like I said in the video my sweet angels!” Her response garnered over 12,000 likes, but the debate continued.
To further address the issue, Teigen shared the same video on her own Instagram account the following day. She captioned it, “Currently getting roasted online for being dirty because no one listened to the audio where I say I’m soaking off body makeup (to shower after!).” She also noted the “full blown fights in John’s comments,” adding humorously, “My favorite is ‘baths are not for bathing.’ I love a good old fashioned roasting though, u guys are killing it (it being never touching grass ever).”
Legend also chimed in on her post, writing, “Baths are not for bathing is some amazing internet-ness.” The couple, who are currently attending the 2024 Cannes Lions festival in France, seemed to take the criticism in stride, even finding humor in the situation.
A dermatologist previously told TODAY.com that showers are generally better for the skin than baths, as prolonged exposure to water can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to irritation and inflammation. However, Teigen’s explanation that she was using the bath to remove body makeup before showering seemed to fall on deaf ears for many critics.
This isn’t the first time Teigen has faced online backlash. The “Cravings” author has a history of responding to negativity on social media with her trademark humor and candor. In April, a social media user accused her and Legend of “always trying to stay relevant by talking and keep on having kids. no one cares.” Teigen sarcastically replied, “Yes very bored and need attention, and there is no other way in the world to get it than having kids.”
Teigen and Legend, who have been married since 2011, share four children: Luna, 8, Miles, 6, Esti, 17 months, and Wren, 11 months. The couple has been open about their family life and the challenges they’ve faced, including the loss of their son Jack at 20 weeks in 2020. They have since welcomed two more children, Esti and Wren, the latter via surrogate.
Despite the criticism, Teigen and Legend continue to share glimpses of their lives with their followers. Legend recently revealed at the Voices of Beauty Summit that the couple makes a point to have a staycation one night a month to reconnect. “If you don’t take those moments to reset [and] if you don’t intentionally take those moments, I think then time can get away from you because you’re always going to have something to do,” he said.
As the debate over Teigen’s bathwater rages on, it’s clear that the couple remains unbothered. They continue to enjoy their time in France, attending events and spending quality time together. For Teigen, the online roasting is just another day in the life of a celebrity who isn’t afraid to clap back at her critics.
