Former TOWIE star Jess Wright has issued a heartfelt public apology following significant backlash over comments made about women wearing thong bikinis on her family podcast, Wright At Home. The reality television personality, alongside her mother Carol and sister Natalya, faced intense criticism for what many described as a 'degrading and disrespectful' conversation regarding women's swimwear choices.
Podcast Controversy Sparks Widespread Outrage
The controversy erupted after a clip from the Wright At Home podcast circulated widely on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, despite being deleted from the podcast's official Instagram page. In the contentious discussion, Jess Wright expressed strong disapproval of thong bikinis, branding them as 'gross' and instructing women to 'put it away'. Her mother Carol and sister Natalya joined in the criticism, with Carol stating that such swimwear is 'not sexy for men to look at'.
Family Perspectives on Swimwear Fashion
During the podcast episode, Jess Wright detailed her husband William Kemp's perspective, quoting him as saying: 'I cannot understand how she thinks that's attractive. Put it away and leave something to the imagination. Who wants to see up their butts?' Carol Wright contributed by sharing an anecdote about her husband Mark Wright Sr., who reportedly told her he finds thong bikinis 'unsexy' after observing holidaymakers wearing them.
The discussion took a particularly ironic turn as social media users quickly unearthed numerous historical images of Jess Wright herself wearing thong-style bikinis during her TOWIE appearances and personal holidays. This revelation prompted accusations of hypocrisy from many online commentators.
Social Media Backlash and Public Response
The reaction across social media platforms was swift and substantial, with many users defiantly posting their own bikini pictures accompanied by captions such as 'Jess, I do not dress for your husband'. Others shared throwback images of Jess Wright in revealing swimwear, highlighting what they perceived as double standards in her commentary.
The Wright family launched their podcast in November last year, and while it had gained moderate traction since its inception, this particular controversy has generated unprecedented attention, particularly on TikTok where the discussion has continued to circulate despite efforts to remove the original content.
Formal Apology Issued
In response to the mounting criticism, Jess Wright posted a formal apology on Tuesday afternoon, stating: 'In response to comments we made on our podcast. We've listened, we hear you and we want to say sorry... Our judgement was wrong and we take full accountability and will do better moving forward. Love Jess, Natalya and Carol.'
The apology acknowledged the family's misstep while committing to improved judgment in future content. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between personal fashion commentary and body positivity movements in contemporary media discourse, particularly when public figures offer unsolicited opinions on women's clothing choices.
