Bella Hadid’s recent remarks about banning work during menstruation provoked a storm of outrage, with readers slamming the model for being ‘privileged’, ‘unrealistic’ and ‘damaging to women’s rights’.

 The glamour of Cannes quickly faded into controversy this week after supermodel Bella Hadid faced public backlash over comments suggesting that working during menstruation, particularly with endometriosis, should be “illegal”.

The 27-year-old model, known for gracing luxury runways and major campaigns, made the remark during a Vogue interview, recalling her experience modelling for Victoria’s Secret while struggling with chronic pain. But what she might have intended as a statement on women’s suffering was instead interpreted as an unrealistic call for a work ban that many see as steeped in privilege.

Readers reacted with blistering fury in MetroTalk, accusing Hadid of being tone-deaf and detached from the reality faced by millions of working women. One woman described herself as “white with rage” over Hadid’s suggestion that women shouldn’t be expected to work during their periods.

“She probably makes £250,000 per shoot,” the reader wrote. “No one forced her to do that job. Most of us don’t have that choice.”

That letter ignited a debate, one that stretched beyond fashion and fame to the core of how society perceives working women, pain, and the complex realities of menstruation.

Another reader criticised Hadid’s idea, warning that it could actually hurt the very group she aims to support. “If you ban women from working during their period,” the reader asked pointedly, “who fills their roles for that week? Post-menopausal women? Men? That’s how you make fertile women unemployable.”

The response online mirrored the anger in print, with many expressing concern that Hadid’s well-intentioned remarks—delivered from the safety net of financial stability—could inadvertently set back progress on women’s equality in the workplace.

One reader did acknowledge that endometriosis is a serious condition that causes immense suffering. Still, she stressed that not every menstruating woman should be treated as unfit for work. “There are therapies. Women don’t need to be labelled as unclean or unhealthy every month. Most of us manage it. We’re workers, leaders, carers. We get on with life.”

While Hadid’s critics didn’t deny her right to speak out about her health struggles, they challenged her sweeping prescription for others. “Stick to modelling,” another reader snapped, “where impossible ideals are sold to women foolish enough to believe they’re real.”

The debate comes as Cannes itself deals with a swirl of controversy around its dress codes, the nudity ban, and broader global issues, including continued suffering in Gaza. Amid all this, Hadid’s red-carpet presence—paired with her inflammatory comment—struck a nerve.

Some have rushed to defend Hadid, citing the stigma around menstruation and the lack of accommodation in most workplaces for chronic menstrual pain. However, others insist that change must come through nuanced policy, not blanket bans or celebrity declarations.

For now, Hadid has not responded to the criticism. But if the reaction is anything to go by, her words have triggered far more than a fashion faux pas—they’ve opened a fiery discussion about privilege, pain, and who gets to decide what’s possible for working women