Here's an unfortunate newsflash: Female news anchors are subjected to infinitely more criticism for their clothing than their male counterparts. In 2014, an Australian news host even wore the same suit for a year in order to prove viewers' knives are often out much more often for women than men.
As for more evidence: this.
One very alarmed viewer managed to wrestle his or her hands from clutching their pearls to write a letter – that's right; an actual letter – to WISN 12's Toya Washington to offer some observations and suggestions concerning her recent "more revealing" and "less professional" fashion choices – including *gasp!* a "camisole" on the Feb. 24 telecast. Here is a screenshot from a YouTube video WISN posted from that date:
TVSpy has a photo of the same telecast, or at least an almost identical outfit. And some Twitter photos from other newscasts in the past month:
This is what I get when I ask this one to smile...eerily similar to asking my kids to take a "normal" picture. @ppaolantonio pic.twitter.com/rk1EoTOeCq — Toya Washington (@Toya_Washington) February 11, 2017
Our reaction moments ago to the #Oscars mix up. @WISN12News is on now...we'll fix our faces shortly. pic.twitter.com/Dolox3S7qa — Toya Washington (@Toya_Washington) February 27, 2017
No time for #selfies for @ppaolantonio pic.twitter.com/8FbSS3Fh4Z — Toya Washington (@Toya_Washington) March 16, 2017
Won't someone think of the children!?
The explanation for Washington's recent fashion faux pas, according to the letter's author? Not only an obvious play for higher ratings, but "quite possibly, you might be 'feeling your age' as an anchor." The letter then closes with "keep up the good work, and we appreciate your consideration," before the author assumably went outside to chastise women whose shins were visible.
Along with a photo of the anonymous letter, Washington posted her response on Facebook, calling the criticism is "laughable" and noting she's bought one new work outfit in the past several months – and that's not planning on changing her wardrobe.
Sounds like viewers will be seeing the Feb. 24 outfit again soon. Sorry, anonymous 21st century letter writer!
As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.
When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.