Vancouver based news anchor, Kori Sidaway took to social media this week to hang one of her viewers out to dry, after they had sent both her and her colleagues emails criticising her 'inappropriate outfit'.
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The CHEK News presenter blasted the viewer over Twitter by posting her response attached to the scathing email. She tweeted:
This screenshot was sent to me and my colleagues in an attempt to shame and police my body. Well, I’m taking my power back. To the nameless computer warrior(s) who try to reduce women into an outfit or a body part — this generation of women, doesn’t stand for harassment.
The email targeted at Sidaway and her colleagues claimed that ‘too much cleavage can break your news story’:
Don't let it happen to you. Episode. 6 Sunday 5-7pm. Attached are two photos. What you think we see and what we actually see. Dress Appropriately, it was hard work to get there. Thanks, Vancouver Island Cleavage Patrol.
This screenshot was sent to me and my colleagues in an attempt to shame and police my body. Well, I’m taking my power back.
— Kori Sidaway (@korisidaway) September 7, 2020
To the nameless computer warrior(s) who try to reduce women into an outfit or a body part — this generation of women, doesn’t stand for harassment👩🏼🤝👩🏻✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/fgGySbVTYy
Neither Sidaway nor her colleagues took the email lightly and many rallied around her in support. Fellow reporter Tess van Straaten commented:
You go, girl! Good for you! When the email popped up on my phone last night my son was shocked people would actually send us messages like that! And it seems to be getting worse. Pretty sure male anchors aren't subject to this kind of harassment.
You go, girl! Good for you! When the email popped up on my phone last night my son was shocked people would actually send us messages like that! And it seems to be getting worse. Pretty sure male anchors aren't subject to this kind of harassment.
— Tess van Straaten (@tessvanstraaten) September 7, 2020
Many Sidaway fans also chimed in to show their support, but also their astonishment that someone else felt it was their place to criticise another woman’s wardrobe, let alone their cleavage. One person commented:
Unreal. I’m sick of this behaviour. This is the insidious stuff that weighs on many women’s minds constantly. We stand with you. Don’t question yourself
A journalist also made quite a statement around the conversation by exposing the sexist expectations of being a woman in the industry:
Good for you for speaking out about an experience all too common for female broadcasters. As a TV journalist, I've been criticized for not matching up to how people "think" women on TV should look. I've been called ugly, 'not feminine enough', etc. It is never acceptable.
I got an anonymous handwritten letter delivered to my network two weeks ago saying “decent men don’t want to see your ‘low cut tops.’ It shows poor taste in character. Hope you come to your senses and stick to doing your job.” I hate to hear it’s happening across Canada 😡😡
— Camila Gonzalez (@camxgonzalez) September 7, 2020
Another former news worker also shared her disturbing experience in the industry back in the 2000s and it seems that nothing has changed:
Early 2000s I was on-camera for a makeover show in Canada. I was called into the editing suite and shown a freeze frame of me mixing hair colour and asked when was I going to take care of 'that' as they gestured to my stomach. 30-something, mom of 2.
Unfortunately, the email sent to Sidaway came from an anonymous email address. It is assumed the sender was a viewer of the show but as their identity is unknown, neither the reporter nor the news station can reprimand the individual.
