After making insensitive and hurtful comments directed at plus size women, former swimsuit model Cheryl Tiegs apologized for body shaming Ashley Graham and criticizing her history-making Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover. During an interview with E! News last week, Tiegs criticized the "glamorizing" of full-figured women like Graham and even stated that "your waist should be smaller than 35 [inches]." In a tweet posted on Feb. 26, Tiegs finally said sorry for her fat-shaming comments.
"My sincere apologies to everyone I have hurt," Tiegs said. "I truly just want everyone to be healthy and happy." The tweet also replaced a now-deleted statement from her that originally said, "Being anorexic/bulimic/overweight all connected to health problems. I want all to be as healthy as they can."
While it's commendable that Tiegs took responsibility for her actions and apologized, her statement still leaves a lot to be desired. She stressed — twice, in fact — that her hope is for everyone to be healthy, as if someone who has waist size upwards of 35 inches is not by her definition. And just a few days before her E! interview, Tiegs shared a photo of another model whom she described as an "inspiration to have a thin, healthy, strong body."
Try again.
Meanwhile, after making her Oscars debut in a stunning red gown, Graham responded to Tiegs' comments to Access Hollywood.
"I think it's an interesting comment and honestly, I was a little speechless when I heard it, but you know, Cheryl's beautiful and I wish her the best," Graham said. "I don't feel that I need to reach out to her. If Cheryl wants to have a conversation with me, why not? I'm sure we'd both have a lot to say."
Well played, Ashley.
