Abbie Chatfield defends getting hair done for TV show
The Bachelor star Abbie Chatfield posted a video to Instagram yesterday, and it didn’t take long for fans to point out something awkward.
Abbie Chatfield has defended getting her hair done in lockdown, explaining it was done legally for a TV appearance.
It comes as the major TV networks confirmed its Sydney and Melbourne stars were able to continue getting their hair done for work appearances despite hairdressers being closed to the general public.
Abbie, who has been a strong proponent for lockdown and vaccinations, shared a sponsored video to Instagram yesterday.
One fan noticed her roots had been touched up, with Abbie last month posting a photo of her with “two inches of regrowth”.
“How’d you get your hair dyed in lockdown?” the follower asked The Bachelor star, prompting her to reply and explain it had been done “legally” as a “requirement for upcoming work”.
While Abbie acknowledged she hadn’t requested to get her hair done and was “very lucky” to be able to do so, the follower claimed her reasoning sounded “a bit ScoMo-ish to me”.
In response, Abbie said that “every person on TV has their hair done” but she knows it “sucks not having access to normal things like hair” services.
“It’s bizarre that certain rules exist for certain environments but not for others, that’s why I didn’t post about it when I got it done. I didn’t want to rub it in anyone’s face,” she wrote.
“Media is still being produced, there are endless exemptions for travel, producers, camera/sound people, hair and makeup, catering etc etc that you don’t see because it doesn’t have a permanent effect like getting your hair done does.
“All of these exemptions exist after MULTIPLE COVID tests the day of your exemption and the days before. We check in, we distance, we wear masks.
“This is literally a requirement of my job. I am an employee for a large media company. I don’t know how else to explain that to you.”
Abbie is far from the only TV personality getting their roots done for on-camera appearances, with Channel 7, Nine and Ten all confirming to the Courier Mail that they have exemptions for hair and makeup services under the current health order.
These services are performed on-site and the authorised workers must wear PPE and submit to regular surveillance Covid testing, a Channel 9 spokesman told news.com.au.
“Nine takes its Covid-19 safe plan extremely seriously,” they said.
“Media and journalism have an exemption under the current public health order, therefore due to the nature of productions, hair and makeup personnel are authorised workers.
“Nine Sydney and Melbourne has onsite Covid-19 testing available and everyone entering the hair and makeup area are asked to undertake a PCR swab test 72 hours before they have their appointment.
“Nine has also recently commenced Rapid Antigen Testing onsite. Channel 9’s on-air talent are Covid-19 tested twice weekly.”
As well as regular testing and wearing PPE, Nine’s hair and makeup team had undergone “additional industry lead Covid-19 training” while “all hair and makeup and on-air talent are encouraged to be vaccinated”.
News.com.au has contacted Abbie’s representatives, Seven, and Ten for further comment.