Aussie radio host Fifi Box has responded to being body-shamed with a firm message. “Don’t talk about women’s bodies unless they ask you to”.
Box, 47, spoke about the experience on the Melbourne breakfast show Fifi, Fev and Nick and said online trolls had been commenting on her appearance in a recent television commercial.
She was wearing a black dress with black tights and described her outfit as one that “covers everything” — but even that didn’t stop online trolls from commenting on her breasts.
“I am a 10DD, I have boobs. I don’t know where to pop them. If I could pop them under my elbows, I would. I’m not seeking that; it’s just if I’m wearing a V-line dress, and they’re there,” she said.
Box said that she didn’t mind if people pointed out she had cleavage on display but she was disheartened by the comments suggesting she should cover up.
“Here’s the thing: It’s my body. It’s my flesh. Why do I have to wear turtlenecks for people to be okay with it?” she said.
The mum of two said that whenever she posts a photo of herself, although the majority are positive, there are always a few negative comments.
“I do find whenever I put a photo up of myself, there are always one or two comments and there are people, often women, being judgmental about my appearance. And I laugh; I have thick skin, very thick skin on this now. I’ve been in the media for a long time, and you just can’t affect me, say what you want about my appearance,” she said.
Ultimately, Box explained that as a mother of two girls, she feels conscious about how commenting on women’s appearances can be detrimental.
“I think we need to talk about this because, you know, we had a Premier Jacinta Allan in the studio. And everyone at the moment is talking about we have a real problem with the way women are being treated, particularly in terms of violence and domestic violence,” she said.
“She said, one of the key points is we have to address how we talk about women, and to women.”
Box said she would “love” for people to stop commenting on other women’s bodies.
“What I would love is for us to stop talking about women’s bodies. Just let them be,” she explained.