Ashley James has hit back at the backlash she received after declaring that her lingerie photos are ‘not for men.’ The 39-year-old broadcaster, DJ, and social commentator, known for her feminist views, shared images and a video of herself in lingerie online, accompanied by a message asserting her choice was for her own empowerment, not for male approval.
Initial Message Sparks Criticism
In March, the former Made In Chelsea star and ITV This Morning social affairs correspondent posted a clip in lingerie, asking: “At what point did we all learn that lingerie was for men… not for ourselves?” She reflected on how women are conditioned to believe their bodies exist for the male gaze, stating: “What if we were taught that our own opinion of ourselves mattered more than the male gaze?” However, her empowering message was met with a wave of negative comments.
Derogatory Comments Received
Among the criticisms, one user wrote: “Umm, dressing in attractive, sensual attire is never for other women. Let’s not kid ourselves.” Another commented: “Literally attention seeking. No girl wears makeup or nice clothes for other females.” A third added: “You’re weirdly obsessed with putting your own body on display in your underwear,” while a fourth simply said: “Put some clothes on.”
Ashley’s Response to Backlash
Ashley, originally from Northumberland, addressed the backlash in a follow-up post, writing: “I said lingerie isn’t for men and the comments proved exactly why we need to keep saying it. LOUDLY.” She highlighted the double standard, noting: “Men walk around topless in the park, on the beach, in the gym, and nobody writes a single comment about what that says about their character or their morals.” She added: “The double standard isn’t subtle. It’s just so normalised that people have stopped noticing it.”
Support from Followers
The post went viral, amassing over 10,000 likes and numerous supportive comments. One follower said: “I feel so sad for these people. Genuinely and not passively aggressively either. Thrilled to be standing in the light with you.” Another wrote: “I had a bestie at work that would treat herself to nice lingerie all the time and she hadn’t touched a bloke in years out of choice—she just liked nice things. Some men think everything is about them.” A third commented: “Nailed it! I’m hosting a supperclub lingerie lunch event this week where 12 women will come together to drink wine and be nourished by delicious food, all while wearing lingerie. Not a man in sight. How groundbreaking that women choose to express their sensuality in ways irrelevant to men!”
Ashley concluded by calling for better protection among women, urging society to “do better.”
