‘Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley Stands Up for ‘Gorgeous’ Nicola Coughlan Amid Body Shaming [Video]

Amid ongoing discourse about Coughlan’s body, Ashley reportedly addressed the body shaming the lead of Bridgerton‘s third season has faced. 

“Yeah, the haters are going to hate, and I think we can all relate to that,” Ashley said during a press conference at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival on June 15, per People, “but I really don’t think that she’s allowing that to bother her.”

Coughlan — who has starred as Penelope Featherington for all seasons of the hit Netflix Regency era romance series based on Julia Quinn’s book series — has been the subject of widespread attention since the highly anticipated new season debuted in May with four episodes and resumed the following month. The new season, which focused on Featherington’s finally requited romance with Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), featured the actors in multiple steamy scenes, one of which included nudity and …