Pro golfer Paige Spiranac is one of several athletes who are appearing in this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, and former ESPN reporter Britt McHenry does not agree with the message Spiranac, gymnast Aly Raisman and other women are sending.
In advance of the magazine being released on Wednesday, Spiranac shared some photos from her shoot on social media.
So @SI_Swimsuit magazine comes out tomorrow!! Make sure to go pick up a copy Still in disbelief I’ll be in it???? #SISwim pic.twitter.com/Ka48yabXdY
— Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) February 13, 2018
After seeing those and some other photos from SI, McHenry decided that she needed to be heard.
Why does a woman have to pose nude to feel “empowered”? Isn’t it more empowering to keep your clothes on, go into an office or classroom like everyone else and excel? #SISwimSuit desperately wanting to compete with IG models with gimmicks.
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) February 13, 2018
For men to respect women more, maybe women shouldn’t take all their clothes off in the guise of pushing #metoo.
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) February 13, 2018
And that goes for men too. I’m not going to take a man more seriously because he strips down and writes words on himself. He might be great to look at, and that’s fine, but come on now…it’s not activism.
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) February 13, 2018
While the tweets were not sent directly to Spiranac, the former San Diego State star took them personally and responded. That led to some back and forth between her and McHenry.
Different women feel empowered in different ways and it’s not right to tell someone what they can and cannot do. It’s more about the person you are and not the clothes you decide or not decide to wear. My body, my choice. https://t.co/CwGlgJX51z
— Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) February 13, 2018
I’ve been around a lot of mean girls and I’ll tell you I’ve never been more welcomed and accepted before than I have by the SI models and team. They are rays of sunshine and some of the most beautiful women, inside and out, I’ve ever met. https://t.co/CwGlgJX51z
— Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) February 13, 2018
I agree it’s your body to do what you want. But posing nude is a way to ascertain empowerment through vanity. I don’t think, and this goes for both genders, it’s the best way to receive reciprocal respect or empowerment. Just my opinion though. https://t.co/v5f4AODzkl
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) February 13, 2018
Ok, but you’ve literally cried at press conferences about how you’re not taken seriously in golf. Anyone can pose naked, and yet this is your response to a civil discussion. You’re both beautiful…and attention-seeking. https://t.co/QWoU37O4XE
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) February 13, 2018
Spiranac is an ambassador for the anti-bullying organization CyberSmile, and she broke down crying in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated when discussing how she has been bullied and considered suicide. She credited SI for giving her a platform where she “took back my body and took back my sexuality.”
Ironically, McHenry infamously went off on a parking lot attendant nearly three years ago and berated her about her body. She probably shouldn’t be handing out advice to women about what empowerment is.
