Jenna Ortega’s sister agrees she ‘doesn’t owe anyone an explanation’ amid growing concern

Jenna Ortega has largely stayed away from the growing online conversation surrounding her appearance, but her younger sister, Aliyah Ortega, appears to be making her feelings known.

The 23-year-old Wednesday star recently became the subject of renewed social media speculation following a video interview with Esquire, with viewers commenting on changes in her appearance and raising questions about her health and weight.

Amid the increasingly personal commentary, Aliyah showed support for a fan who urged people to stop analyzing Jenna’s body and give the actress her privacy.

Aliyah Ortega reacts to the conversation:

The message was shared on Instagram by a fan defending Jenna against the unsolicited speculation surrounding her appearance. “She doesn’t owe anyone an explanation,” the fan wrote, adding that “her life is her life, and her body belongs to her.”

The post continued by reminding followers that outsiders have no way of knowing what someone may be experiencing privately and shouldn’t draw conclusions based solely on their appearance or comments made during an interview.

© Frazer Harrison

“Sometimes the most respectful thing we can do is simply give someone privacy, support them, and let them be,” the message read.

Aliyah did not issue a lengthy statement of her own. Instead, she responded beneath the post with a simple but noticeable “!!!,” seemingly emphasizing her support for its message.

© Matt Winkelmeyer

The small interaction quickly attracted attention as the conversation surrounding Jenna continued online.

Jenna recently opened up about her childhood on set:

Part of the renewed discussion followed Jenna’s candid Esquire interview, during which she looked back at the pressure she placed on herself while working as a child actor.

© Penske Media via Getty Images

“I really had it going for me as a child ’cause I can’t think of one mistake I made,” she said while reflecting on her younger years. “As a child, I was so grateful and so excited to be there that my game face was on.”

That determination, however, sometimes came at the expense of her own basic needs. “I wasn’t asking for a sip of water,” Jenna recalled, explaining, “I would go all day without eating, drinking, whatever, because I wanted so badly to not be in the way of anybody.”

© REX Features/Shutterstock /The Grosby Group

Her comments referred specifically to her behavior as a young performer and the pressure she put on herself not to inconvenience anyone on set. They did not provide an explanation for her current appearance.

The distinction has become particularly important as fans and social media users continue to connect the interview with photographs and videos of the actress today.

A major Hollywood chapter ahead:

Despite the intense attention surrounding her personal life and appearance, Jenna is entering another busy period professionally.

© Axelle/Bauer-Griffin

Following the global success of Wednesday, the actress has continued expanding beyond the role of Wednesday Addams with an increasingly varied lineup of projects.

She is set to star in Klara and the Sun, the adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s acclaimed novel directed by Taika Waititi, and will appear alongside Natalie Portman in The Gallerist. She is also expected to return as Wednesday Addams for the Netflix series’ third season.

Further ahead, Jenna is attached to J.J. Abrams’ mysterious sci-fi project The Great Beyond and Leos Carax’s Lily May B.