Halsey isn’t giving in to the pressures of snapback culture.
The “Without Me” singer, who gave birth to their first child in July, expressed how important it was for fans to know that while they may have looked like they were back in tip-top shape for their “Saturday Night Live” performance over the weekend, it wasn’t the result of any hardcore postpartum workout.
“I did SNL two nights ago and a lot of people were quick to say how good I looked,” the 27-year-old artist wrote on Instagram on Monday. “That was a weird feeling. My body has felt like a stranger’s for a long time. I uphold myself to honesty to the point of oversharing sometimes but this feels important.”
Halsey shared several photos of their belly where visible stretch marks had appeared as a result of their pregnancy.
“The first picture on this slide is days after my baby was already born. A lot of people don’t know that you still look pregnant for a while after,” they wrote. “It is still changing and I am letting it. I have no interest in working out right now.”
They continued, “I’m too tired and too busy playing with my darling son.”
Halsey credited the “SNL” production team with their on-camera look.
“With that being said, the body behind all those compliments the other night was wearing a custom-tailored outfit and lighted perfectly after much testing, so I could feel good and do my job,” they said. “I do not want to feed the Illusion that you’re meant to feel and look ‘great’ immediately postpartum. That is not my narrative currently.”
The “Life’s a Mess” singer added that they are ok with “never” having their old figure.
“I will never have my ‘pre baby body back’ no matter how it changes physically because I have now had a baby! And that has altered me forever; emotionally, spiritually, and physically,” they said. “That change is permanent. And I don’t want to go back! But In the spirit of honesty, I’m really tired and not a superhuman and this is really hard. Doing my best to serve my art and my family whilst keeping it all so very real. Love.”
Halsey, who suffered a miscarriage in 2015, and their boyfriend Aliv Ayden welcomed their child, Ender Ridley Aydi, over the summer. They have yet to reveal their baby’s sex.
The “Closer” singer first announced that they were pregnant in January by posting a maternity photoshoot featuring their baby bump.