Anyone who works on camera, especially in a job that requires public appearances like journalism, knows how quickly people can start criticizing their appearance. The rise of the internet and social media has made it easier than ever for people to hide behind their screens and throw out harsh judgments.
Kristen Nicole, the anchor of “Good Day Chicago,” is no stranger to this kind of public scrutiny, but even she was stunned when viewers started complaining about her baby bump.
Kristen, who was already a mother to one, was expecting her second child when she began receiving complaints from viewers about her appearance. She was sitting behind the news desk one day, wearing a snug blue dress that highlighted her growing belly, when the negative comments started flooding in.
According to AOL, viewers reached out to Kristen’s news station to voice their frustration with the sight of her baby bump. Instead of congratulating her on the news of her pregnancy, some people decided to complain that the dress she was wearing showed too much of her belly.
You might think that, as a successful working mom who was still coming to work during the final weeks of her pregnancy, Kristen would deserve praise, not criticism. But there are always people who feel the need to point out flaws, even when they don’t exist.
Kristen didn’t let the shade go unaddressed. She decided to respond publicly with a Facebook post. “LET ME SAVE YOU SOME TROUBLE,” Kristen wrote, calling out her critics. “My email address is ***, but if you’re writing to tell me that you’re offended by the sight of my baby bump, don’t hold your breath waiting for a response. It’s not coming.”
She pointed out that she wore the blue dress “probably once a month,” and no one had ever had an issue with it until now.
She was clearly annoyed, but handled the situation with humor. “Wear it almost 8 months pregnant? Woah…disgusting, right? (insert massive eye roll),” Kristen quipped. Her playful response made it clear that she wasn’t going to change her wardrobe or stop being proud of her pregnancy just because a few people didn’t like how she looked.
But Kristen wasn’t done yet. She also took the time to address the people who had sent her direct emails—Karen, Gene, and Sabrina. “To Karen, Gene, and Sabrina who wrote to me today, use your time better,” she urged. “Pay someone a compliment. Do a good deed.” She encouraged them to use their energy to spread kindness instead of negativity.
Kristen wasn’t all sass though. She also thanked the many supporters who reached out with kind messages. “To everyone else who has sent messages of congratulations and well wishes,” Kristen wrote, “You are keeping me motivated through these last 6 weeks. We’re finally in the home stretch!
I’ve had a healthy, comfortable, stress-free pregnancy, and my husband, son, and I are beyond excited to meet our new addition. Thank you for being a part of our journey!”
It seems Kristen received three emails from three separate viewers—Karen, Gene, and Sabrina—all upset that she allowed her baby bump to be visible in her dress. One of the women even accused Kristen of wearing a fake baby bump for ratings, while another criticized her choice of maternity wear, saying it wasn’t “appropriate” for a pregnant woman.
Kristen didn’t let the negative comments shake her. She had a healthy pregnancy and wasn’t going to let a few unhappy viewers take away her joy. She remained confident, focusing on the love and support from her fans and the excitement of welcoming her new baby.
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