Vin Diesel shows off washboard abs following body-shaming for Dad bod

Vin Diesel was body-shamed by critics back in 2015 after showing off his "dad bod" during a sunshine break to Miami, so it comes as no surprise that the Furious 7 star is keen to have the last word this time around. The 48-year-old actor has kicked off the year by sharing a snap of his chiselled abs.

On 6 January the action hero, who is preparing to reprise his role as Xander Cage in the forthcoming sequel to his 2002 movie xXx, took to his Instagram account to show off his hard work in the gym with a topless picture. In the image he can be seen standing on the beach wearing just shorts and a pair of sunglasses. The sea and setting sun provide a picturesque backdrop.

Within minutes of the post going live, fans flocked online in droves to show their appreciation and to also offer messages of support. "Oh baby u soo hotttt @vindiesel" one said with another adding: "How old are you now? Wow you put 20 year olds to shame."

Back in October, Diesel used the same platform to slam those that condemned his physique on social media with "dad bod" jibes. "It is amazing the response from the journalists who I have been talking to for the last two days in New York," he wrote alongside a snap of him in a black shirt looking toned and considerably lighter. "Today one wanted to see the dad bod. Haha. I am wondering if I should show the picture... Body-shaming is always wrong! What do you think? #LastWitchHunter."

In 2017, Diesel will return to the screen to portray an extreme athlete and stuntman who's recruited by the NSA to work for them as a spy after passing on 2005's XXX: State Of The Union which starred Ice Cube instead. It was recently announced that Samuel L Jackson will also reprise his role as Agent Augustus Gibbons in the next instalment of the series.