Carol Vorderman hits back at critics who judge her looks
Watch Carol Vorderman hit back at critics who judge her looks
What did you miss?
Confident at 63, Carol Vorderman had a message for the people who have criticised her for the way she looks.
The former Countdown host was invited to speak on Good Morning Britain to mark International Women's Day. She may be most famous for her TV work on Countdown but the star is using her platform to speak freely on social media about politics and to do what she feels will hold politicans to account.
Conversation turned to women and Vorderman said she has faced judgement all of her life for the way she looks in her role as a TV presenter. But taking no notice of others, she said: "Now I'm in my sixties I feel that I should speak out."
What, how and why?
Vorderman drew attention to Shaun Bailey's comments that she couldn't be "both" a "serious political commentator" and have "pictures of her bum and boobs" on Instagram. She said: "On the subject of women, it is about calling it out. I had Lord - Lord! - Shaun Bailey who is misogynist."
TV host Charlotte Hawkins responded: "So he made comments about you saying you couldn't be a serious political commentator and then put photos that you do on Instagram."
To which, Vorderman summed up what Bailey had said about her: "You can't wear a bikini and talk politics basically."
Hawkins then asked Vorderman what her own personal opinion was of the people who judge her. "What do you make those people?" She said. "What do you make of those people who are judging you by the way you look?"
However, Vorderman said she doesn't take notice of those critics and she will speak her mind freely. People judging her for the way she looks is something she said she has experienced all her life. She said: "But here's the thing Charlotte, I've had it all of my life - as a TV presenter. I won't go with the society rules at the time. Now I'm in my sixties I feel that I should speak out on behalf of other people."
What happened with Carol Vorderman and Shaun Bailey?
In January this year, Vorderman had called out Bailey for his comments about her "bum and her boobs" on social media.
Lord Bailey sparked outrage on social media with his comments on GB News: "Look, on one hand she's got all that stuff, you know, she's a serious political commentator, and then if you look at her Instagram it's all pictures of her bum and her boobs. So what is it here? She can't be both."
Furious, Vorderman hit back on social media platform X saying: "Tory Shaun Bailey is a MISOGYNIST #SexistShaun - the Jingle & Mingle Partygate apologist."
She added: "Shaun thinks that women who wear lycra in the gym shouldn't be allowed a political opinion.... or I assume a vote! Failed mayoral candidate #SexistShaun was made a lord last year. Yet another Tory honour for dishonour."
At the time, celebrities spoke out for Vorderman in the wake of Bailey's remarks. Catherine Tyldesley, Gemma Atkinson and Ashley James were among the stars who threw their support behind Vorderman.
Following the fallout, Bailey then said in a statement: "In a recent panel discussion, I used a clumsy form of words to describe Carol Vorderman’s Instagram posts.
"The point I was trying to make is Carol lives in a world of glitz and celebrity, as her Instagram portrays, but simultaneously demonises and bullies those who hold different political views to her own. I strongly support free speech. I don’t support bullying."
Yahoo News has approached Shaun Bailey for further comment.
Read more
This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/carol-vorderman-hits-back-judged-looks-105940527.html
