Selma Blair responds to negative comments on her nude Instagram photo

Selma Blair has shared her battle with MS on her Instagram. Photo / Getty

Warning: Graphic content

Selma Blair's refreshing candour when it comes to her health battle has been a fixture of her Instagram feed for many months, but her latest post has prompted a mixed response from followers.

Posting to Instagram on Sunday, the star, who has multiple sclerosis, shared a photo sans-pants — her bare bottom on display to her 1.9 million followers, reports news.com.au.

The original photo shows Blair, 47, looking in a mirror, a hand against her bald head, wearing a pink and green cardigan with a strategically placed crab-shaped purse by designer Thom Brown over her front. Her nude backside is on display with the caption, "Portrait of a lady."

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Portrait of a lady. @thombrowneny in #calfornia. Shot by @creativerehabnyc #subversive universe #barbie

A post shared by Selma Blair (@selmablair) on Sep 7, 2019 at 1:29pm PDT

Many fans praised the bold image, including a handful of celebrities.

Modern Family star Sarah Hyland responded to the Hellboy actor with smiling emojis, while model Jaime King wrote, "I love you cutie booty."

And Blair's Cruel Intentions co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar joked, "You know they have medicine for that," in reference to the crab purse.

Others, however, expressed disapproval.

"Wear your pants," one commenter demanded, to which Blair responded, " I don't have any. Can you believe it! Minimalism." Another simply wrote, "Sorry unfollowing," to which Blair replied, "Is it something I said?" When another "didn't get it" and questioned the motive of the photo beyond "shock factor," Blair responded: "I think it's a vulnerable, humorous, odd and interesting fashion shot. I like it."

Blair also responded to the negativity with a follow-up post depicting a Barbie doll in the same pose.

Blair was diagnosed with MS almost a year ago and appeared in public this year walking with a cane.

Last month, Blair revealed her treatment left her immune system compromised, and she experienced hair loss.

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Today is a banner day. I am being discharged from the care of an incredible team of nurses and techs and a visionary Dr. who believes in my healing as much as I do. This has been a process. And will continue to be one. I am immunocompromised for next three months at least. So no kisses please. I wanted to make sure any complications that might arise here were my private space. And we got through brilliantly. I thank you all for your love and support and that extra dose of great with a @people cover. I see things so much more clearly now. And I am excited to share this journey when I am ready. For now, I have recovery. And a great @the_alinker_world so I gotta split. Bye!!!!!! This is the best gift I could give to Arthur. #newimmunesystem #whodis? 🎂

A post shared by Selma Blair (@selmablair) on Jul 25, 2019 at 8:12am PDT

She has posted several photos to her Instagram account since to reveal the extent of her hair loss.

In a cover story for People magazine earlier this year, Blair opened up about her MS battle, saying she has experienced "constant weakness and fatigue" and spasmodic symptoms that compromise her control over her face and voice.

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Scene stealer . #pippa. At least I have this #thombrowne knit and this photo by @creativerehabnyc . This will make me smile til the end of time. #happydog #happyme

A post shared by Selma Blair (@selmablair) on Aug 25, 2019 at 11:24am PDT

Blair, who has an 8-year-old son, Arthur, first shared with the public how MS had affected her in a revealing interview with Good Morning Americain February. During that interview she was dealing with an "exacerbation" of MS — resulting in spasmodic dysphonia, a condition that alters her voice.