Erin Molan defends Lauren Sanchez’s bra-flashing inauguration outfit
Erin Molan has leapt to the defence of Lauren Sanchez after she copped harsh criticism for her plunging blazer at Trump’s inauguration.
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Former Australian TV host Erin Molan has weighed in on the drama surrounding the “racy” outfit that dominated Donald Trump’s inauguration celebrations.
In case you missed it, Lauren Sanchez – an Emmy Award-winning journalist who also happens to be engaged to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos – hit headlines around the world because she wore a bra that was slightly visible under her blazer as the 47th President of the United States was sworn in on Monday.
The outfit faced huge criticism, with many stating that having visible lingerie at such a prestigious event was “inappropriate”.
Molan, who was recently dropped from Sky News’ hosting lineup, has previously endured similar rhetoric to Sanchez. She’s spoken out about people claiming she dresses “inappropriately” for her age, and recently shut down claims her Instagram account had been an issue for her former employer, which was said to have wanted to promote a more modest image in line with Sky’s conservative programming.
Now the broadcaster, who has since taken her commentary to YouTube, has blasted those who condemned Sanchez in a new video.
“Lauren Sanchez’s outfit at Donald Trump’s inauguration. If that makes you angry, then how incredibly privileged a life you must lead. I mean really? I hate this stuff so, so much,” the 41-year-old told her 248,000 Instagram followers.
“I will take anyone on for what they say, for what they do, but this? I mean freedom of speech - of course have your say, I am having mine now - but in the ways that really matter when we look around at the world at the moment. I mean come on.”
Molan, who has a daughter Eliza, 6, went on to explain that women are “constantly made to feel awful about ourselves”, a cruel gender injustice she said she had experienced firsthand at work.
“We’re not young enough, we’re not pretty enough, we’re not skinny enough... so if you wear something that makes you feel unbelievable, wear it. I love that. Do whatever the hell makes you feel happy,” she stressed.
“I’ve dealt with this stuff for 20 years when I was hosting sport, ‘you won’t be taken seriously if you wear that dress’, ‘no one will think you’ve got substance if you wear that outfit’, ‘wear a boxy suit like a man’.
“It’s crazy. You can be sexy, wear whatever the hell you want and you can also have substance in whatever field it is that you are professionally involved in. They’re not mutually exclusive.”
The journalist concluded her video, filmed in a hotel while on holiday in the US, by stating she’s “constantly talking about the oppression of women” in other parts of the world who “endure a lack of total freedom”.
“But we can’t fight for their freedom and then say but when you do escape the awful regime, ‘don’t show too much or we will annihilate you’. It’s madness,” she said.
While many of Molan’s followers agreed with the star, there were some who remained firm that the backlash against Sanchez was justified.
“Definitely feel like there was a time and place here and she could’ve worn something a bit more elegant and that would match the dress code,” one lamented.
“I love you, and I agree that this is by no means an important issue, given everything that’s going in the world. However, the outfit was not appropriate for the occasion. There’s etiquette, and she broke it,” another agreed.
As one added: “So I love your commentary and I think you are brilliant, but I think most of the criticism is about the appropriateness of the dress at a presidential inauguration, which is an extremely classy event. I don’t think it’s about, you know, ‘feeling sexy’ or ‘good as a woman’, more than it is about dressing appropriately for the occasion which is really about class.”
But plenty leapt to the defence of Sanchez too.
“No one should be ripping into her for her outfit,” one stated.
“Thank you for being that female who raises others always,” another chipped in.
While one Molan fan wrote:
“Thank God for women like you. At the end of the day it’s driven by jealousy. Please start a talk show Erin.”
Sanchez, 55, is yet to speak out about the furore surrounding her outfit, but has reportedly been liking comments on social media defending her fashion choice.
Backlash kicked off after footage showed Mark Zuckerberg glancing at her chest underneath the plunging Alexander McQueen garment.
Fox News journalist Megyn Kelly launched a scathing attack on Sanchez, labelling the outfit “absurd”, and declaring: “No one should be talking about your t**s. Sorry.”
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Originally published as Erin Molan defends Lauren Sanchez’s bra-flashing inauguration outfit