TOWIE personality Jess Wright recently issued an apology following backlash over remarks deemed derogatory towards women wearing thong bikinis. Jess, alongside her mother Carol and sister Natalya, faced criticism for their podcast conversation where they criticized thong bikinis as “gross” and “unsexy.” Jess mentioned that her husband dislikes revealing bikini bottoms and advised women to cover up. The trio’s comments on their podcast episode titled ‘Should thongs be allowed at the beach?’ sparked widespread outrage for being perceived as demeaning to women.
In response to the negative feedback, Jess, Natalya, and Carol posted an apology on their Instagram stories expressing regret for their misjudgment and pledging to do better in the future. The apology message stated, “We’ve listened, we hear you and we want to say sorry. Our judgement was wrong, and we take full accountability and will be better moving forward. Love Jess, Natalya, and Carol.”
During their podcast discussion, Jess expressed her disapproval of thong bikinis being acceptable beach attire, with Natalya adding that women who choose to wear them should at least cover up when bending over. Carol also shared her opinion that such swimwear is not attractive to men, echoing Jess’s husband’s perspective on leaving something to the imagination. The conversation included anecdotes about encountering women in revealing outfits at the beach, leading to further critiques from their audience.
While some fans agreed with the viewpoints presented by the trio, many condemned their remarks, particularly those focusing on men’s opinions of women’s swimwear choices. Criticism centered on the notion that women should not be judged based on their clothing choices and that individuals should have the freedom to dress as they please without facing judgment or scrutiny.
The incident involving Jess, Carol, and Natalya occurred shortly after a podcast segment where Carol discussed her approach to her son Mark Wright’s marriage to actress Michelle Keegan. Addressing a listener’s query about mother-in-law dynamics, Carol highlighted her restraint in expressing opinions to avoid appearing overly assertive within the family dynamic. Jess emphasized that she does not identify with the stereotype of the “evil mother-in-law” and reiterated the importance of familial relationships and mutual respect.
The controversy surrounding the discussion on thong bikinis serves as a reminder of the ongoing conversations about body positivity, individual autonomy, and societal expectations regarding women’s fashion choices.