Ashton Kutcher Shares How Tom Ford Let Him Go from a Gucci Campaign Over His Speedo Look at 178 Pounds
Ashton Kutcher; Tom Ford.
Credit:
Theo Wargo/Getty; Karwai Tang/WireImage
Ashton Kutcher Reflects on Early Modeling Career and Industry Pressures
In a recent interview with ET, Ashton Kutcher opened up about the challenges he faced during his early modeling career, emphasizing the relentless pursuit of unrealistic beauty standards. The 47-year-old actor shared a poignant memory of being dismissed from a Gucci campaign at the age of 19, highlighting the universality of insecurities, which, he noted, affect everyone regardless of their perceived success.
Before he rose to fame on the screen, Kutcher started his career on the runway. During the interview, he, along with The Beauty co-stars Jeremy Pope and Anthony Ramos, discussed the often unattainable ideals of perfection within the fashion industry.
Kutcher noted, “I started modeling when I was, like, 19, and I was hanging out with what I consider to be some of the most beautiful people in the world. And what I realized really quickly is, everybody had an insecurity.”
Ashton Kutcher modeling in 1998.
Kyle Ericksen/Penske Media via Getty
Recalling a significant moment in his career, Kutcher described how he was once told by Tom Ford, Gucci’s creative director at the time, that he was "too fat" for a campaign. “I showed up and he puts me in, like, a pink Speedo. I was, like, 178 lbs. – I know exactly how much I weighed,” Kutcher remarked. The incident led to his dismissal, but he later reflected that it served as a lesson in resilience, stating, "He had a specific thing that he wanted to see… It didn’t mean I was less, but it just meant that I wasn’t that for him for that moment."
This candid exchange underscores the often harsh realities faced by individuals in appearance-driven industries. Kutcher highlighted that while this experience was challenging, it ultimately contributed to his understanding of self-worth beyond industry standards.
“If you look in the mirror long enough, you’ll find something you don’t like,” he observed, reaffirming that everyone harbors insecurities.
Ashton Kutcher in ‘The Beauty.’
Eric Liebowitz/FX
Kutcher’s reflections tie closely to his upcoming role in FX’s The Beauty, a thriller that delves into society’s obsession with image and aesthetics. He plays a mysterious tech billionaire known as "The Corporation," who creates a miracle drug aimed at enhancing beauty.
Scheduled to debut on January 21, the series also features Bella Hadid, Evan Peters, and other prominent actors, exploring the implications of how far individuals go to meet societal expectations regarding appearance.
