US soprano 'shames' body-shaming critics

US soprano Kathryn Lewek has criticised the "lazy" and "hurtful" comments opera critics made about her latest role, accusing them of body shaming, BBC News reports.

The singer was widely praised for her performance as Eurydice in a raunchy production of Orpheus in the Underworld at the Salzburg Festival in Austria.

But some reviewers went further and criticised her appearance, calling her "fat", "stocky-looking" and "buxom".

Speaking to the BBC, Lewek called the comments "antiquated" and "ridiculous".

She said her role in Orpheus in the Underworld was clearly a sexualised one ("she has sex with everyone on stage") so she had been prepared for "some comments".

But the soprano, who recently gave birth, was stunned to read reviews that she said critiqued her "postpartum mom-bod instead of reviewing the show".