In response, the newsreader concerned took part in a televised discussion about how it felt to be at the receiving end of such judgmental correspondence. She admitted that although she considered herself a confident person, this criticism did have a negative impact on her and, indeed, had caused her to worry about her physical appearance.
But broadcasting the contents of nasty letters from small-minded folk was surely a misstep. If I was someone old enough that "the Hindenburg" springs immediately to mind, and cruel enough to write offensive notes to TV presenters about their body shape, witnessing my views repeated on the telly to a global audience would probably inspire me to escalate my poisonous campaign in the hope there would be a repeat performance.
The advice to not "feed the trolls" is wise. There's little to be gained in giving oxygen to such personal attacks.
Locally, Pippa Wetzell, Seven Sharp's fill-in presenter called New Zealanders "a nice bunch" because of the warm response viewers had to Toni Street's pregnancy and the subsequent arrival of her baby. However, Street enjoyed a luxury not generally afforded to weather presenters; she was able to hide her growing bump behind the Seven Sharp desk whereas the Canadian meteorologist's bulky belly presumably might have obscured part of the map - which could explain why some viewers were decidedly ticked off at her.
But the main message here is that pregnant women, whether they are weather presenters or not, are judged and criticised for pretty much everything they do. Sometimes news reports about their antics are published in mediums with a penchant for CAPITAL LETTERS. They are criticised for having "toned abs" while EIGHT MONTHS pregnant. Another pregnant woman was criticised for posting "pictures of herself WEIGHTLIFTING".
Even women of royal descent don't escape the disapproving narratives about their sporting endeavours: "Zara Phillips went out riding this morning, proudly displaying a baby bump and steadfastly ignoring NHS guidelines that suggest horses and pregnancy don't go."
You don't even have to be famous while in charge of a pregnant belly to make the headlines here. One Auckland teacher was controversially denied a drink at a Newmarket bar.
In short, if you're visibly pregnant, you will almost certainly be scrutinised and criticised if you have the temerity to leave the house. Perhaps pregnant women should lock themselves away in case they unwittingly give offence to some sensitive soul. Of course, the other, infinitely more modern, solution is to deliberately flaunt your pregnant belly as often as you can while going about your lawful business. This way, the naysayers won't know where to look and they won't know where to direct their anger and disgust.
Hopefully they will then disappear in a puff of righteous indignation and never be heard from again.
