Amy Schumer Explains Why She Clapped Back At Criticism Of Her 'Puffy' Face

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Amy Schumer knows her supporters are in her corner.

In February, the 42-year-old comedian clapped back at online trolls who criticized her "puffier than normal" face. Now, Amy's explaining why she was compelled to speak up.

“The people who like me are not going to care if my face is puffy," Amy told Variety whilediscussing her new film Unfrosted. "Everyone has moments of self-doubt. I rose up and was like, ‘F*ck it, let’s go.’”

Two months ago, her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon caused speculation from commenters. But Amy had no patience for the haters.

“Thank you so much for everyone’s input about my face!” she wrote alongside a Feb. 15 Instagram post promoting the second season of her Hulu series, Life and Beth. “I’ve enjoyed feedback and deliberation about my appearance as all women do for almost 20 years. And you’re right, it is puffier than normal right now.”

Amy went on to explain that she has endometriosis, which she said is a condition that “every woman should read about."

“There are some medical and hormonal things going on in my world right now," she added, "But I’m okay.”

Just weeks later, Amy revealed that she has Cushing syndrome, a rare disorder that happens when your body makes too much of the stress hormone cortisol over a long period of time, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). One of the side effects? A round face.

"I think [commenters] are mad that I'm not thinner," Amy shared on a Feb. 20 episode of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, per E! News. "I think they're mad I'm not prettier and that I still feel like I have a right to speak. And I think that they don't want any woman to speak. I mean, what woman has ever opened her mouth and not been, like, torn to shreds?"

So, what, exactly, is endometriosis and Cushing syndrome? Here's everything you need to know about Amy's health conditions.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition where the type of tissue that forms the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the uterus, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) explains. It's very common: One in 10 women experience it, according to Yale Medicine.

Although Amy referred to endometriosis as an "autoimmune disease" in her post, it's not actually classified as one. However, endometriosis is linked with a greater risk of autoimmune conditions, since its inflammatory nature appears to trigger an imbalance in the immune system, per a 2019 report.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

Endometriosis can have no symptoms, but the most common symptom is usually chronic pelvic pain, especially just before or after your period, ACOG says. People with endometriosis may also have pain with sex or pain while pooping or peeing, as well as heavy bleeding. The condition is also linked to higher rates of infertility.

Is endometriosis curable?

Endometriosis isn’t curable, but it can often be managed with medications and surgery. ACOG notes that up to 80 percent of women have pain again within two years of having surgery for endometriosis—and the more severe the endometriosis is, the more likely it is to return.

Amy first revealed her endometriosis diagnosis in 2021.

Amy first revealed her diagnosis three years ago in an Instagram video, sharing that she had a hysterectomy and appendectomy to treat her condition. The surgeries helped her feel "like a new person."

"It was incredible," she said, reflecting on the procedures a year later, per People. "I feel like someone lifted this veil that had been over me and I just felt like a different person."

Previously, Amy said she'd struggled with "pretty significant pain," calling endometriosis a "lonely disease."

She shared her Cushing syndrome in 2024.

But Amy's endometriosis isn't the only reason behind her new appearance. She was also diagnosed with Cushing syndrome, a condition that occurs when too much cortisol is in the body for a prolonged period of time. Symptoms include weight gain, thin arms and legs, a round face, increased fat around the base of the neck, a fatty hump between the shoulders, easily bruising, wide purple stretch marks, and weak muscles.

"I feel reborn," Amy said in the News Not Noise newsletter in late February. "While I was doing press on camera for my Hulu show [Life & Beth], I was also in MRI machines four hours at a time, having my veins shut down from the amount of blood drawn and thinking I may not be around to see my son grow up. So finding out I have the kind of Cushing that will just work itself out and I'm healthy was the greatest news imaginable."

Amy added that she “realized something was wrong” while receiving a lot of commentary from social media users about her appearance while promoting the show. After undergoing a series of medical tests, she learned that she has exogenous Cushing syndrome, which was brought on by getting "steroid injections in high doses."

Treatments for Cushing syndrome depends on the cause. In the case of getting Cushing syndrome from medication, gradually reducing the dose to the lowest dose needed or switching medications can help, the NIDDK says.

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