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Kelly Clarkson on body criticism: 'We are who we are'

The singer was recently slammed by British television personality Katie Hopkins as "a chunky monkey."

By Annie Martin
Kelly Clarkson dismissed recent criticism of her weight. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 5 | Kelly Clarkson dismissed recent criticism of her weight. File photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, April 3 (UPI) -- Kelly Clarkson addressed criticism of her weight Friday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The 32-year-old singer was slammed by British television personality Katie Hopkins in February as "a chunky monkey" who looked as if she had "eaten her backup singers," and revealed she has been the target of body critics since American Idol in 2002.

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"I wasn't big, but people would people would call me big," she recalled of competing on and winning the Fox reality series. "People are like, 'I'm so sorry that lady in London was so mean to you.' And I'm like, 'Are you serious?' Like, get in line!"

Clarkson previously dismissed Hopkins to Heat magazine, saying she "just never cared what people think." The singer told host Ellen DeGeneres she is more concerned by the effect negative comments will have on her fans than her own confidence.

"It's like, you just are who you are," she related. "We are who we are -- whatever size. It doesn't mean that we're gonna be that forever ... I'm such a creative person I yo-yo. Sometimes I'm more fit and get into kickboxing hardcore. And then sometimes I don't and I'm like, 'I'd rather have wine.'"

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Clarkson and husband Brandon Blackstock married in October 2013, and welcomed their first child, daughter River Rose, in June 2014. The singer released her seventh studio album, Piece by Piece, in February, and recently revisited the American Idol set with River.

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