Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has addressed a story written by a Detroit Fox affiliate, FOX 2, that rounded up insulting social media comments about her dress and body while she gave her “State of the State” address.
Boys have teased me about my curves since 5th grade. My mom said “hold your head high and don’t let it bother you.”
That @Fox2News story was way out of line.
I’m tough, I can take it.
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) February 14, 2019
Until then, I’ve got a message for all of the women and girls like mine who have to deal with garbage like this every day: I’ve got your back.
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) February 14, 2019
FOX 2 mined the comments about her speech on social media, printing such statements as “she’s showing off her cans” and “I’d hit it.” Other comments critiqued her high-necked blue dress, calling it “not appropriate.”
After the outcry sparked by the story, FOX 2 News Director Kevin Roseborough added a note to the story, saying that the reporters were “taken aback” by the comments on Whitmer’s body and chose not to “turn away” from the different standards female politicians are expected to meet.
However, another local outlet, the Michigan Advance, reported that the comments on Whitmer’s appearance were not the top posts under any of the videos of the speech, and required digging to unearth them.
