By Anya
Hannah Storm in a horrifying, horrifying outfit today.She’s got on red go-go boots and a catholic school plaid skirt … way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now. … She’s got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body. … I know she’s very good, and I’m not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, so I won’t … but Hannah Storm … come on now! Stop! What are you doing? … She’s what I would call a Holden Caulfield fantasy at this point. —–
Tony Kornheiser, Chivalrous Gentleman and Sports Talk Show Host
Kornheiser received a two-week suspension from some ESPN sports show that I could care less about for these remarks. Some speculate that ESPN hit him with a relatively harsh sentence for reasons that go beyond his remarks about Ms. Storm. Let’s just say if you Google ‘ESPN + sexual harrassment’ you get a lot of hits. Steve Phillips, anyone? Harold Reynolds? Note: I am not insuitating that Kornheiser’s tactless comments were in any way a form of sexual harrassment – simply that ESPN may be a bit sensitive regarding their image in the area of male-female relations.
There is another rumor out there claiming ESPN was more upset about Kornheiser’s ribbing of his fellow ESPN colleague’s Chris Berman’s flucuating weight.
You know what is kind of funny? Kornheiser doesn’t seem to take too kindly to people criticizing him. Funny how those double standards work, isn’t it?
Kornheiser has apologized – sort of:
“If you put a live microphone in front of somebody, eventually that person will say something wrong. This was one of the times I said something wrong.”
So I am interested in what IW readers think. Is Storm’s outfit that bad or inappropriate for her age? (She is 47, by the way). What do you think about the fact that Kornheiser seems to imply that Storm’s real worth and significance lies in her physical appearance and not in her capabilities as a journalist? Or are we making too much of this? Anyone who has listened to sports talk radio for even a few minutes knows that the hosts often engage in almost as much pop-culture talk and (not very funny) jokey-jokes as actual sports analysis.
At the end of the day, I am sure of two things — Tony Kornheiser is a Class A Jerk and Hannah Storm (and 47-year-old body) looks perfectly fine.
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12 Responses to Hannah Storm: Way too Old and Horrid for Short Skirts?
You know, reading up on this after it happened, I encountered a number of people who said, “Oh, that’s his shtick, he insults everyone’s looks.” Putting aside for a moment how I feel about that (I mean, it’s male-dominated radio; I guess I’m naive if I don’t expect a certain frat-boy mentality to rule, even if Kornheiser is way too old to be acting like a frat boy), I still have a couple of issues here:
1) Reading the Deadspin link, it’s clear that Tony is the poster boy for Dishing it Out But Being Unable to Take It. I just don’t respect that, at all. Maybe that doesn’t speak to whether the suspension was fair or not, but sheesh. His arrogance is revolting.
2) Maybe he does criticize people’s looks all the time; I don’t know (I don’t listen to him). But the criticism of Storm is problematic on a couple of levels. The “sausage casing” comment implies that Storm is fat, which she very clearly is not. The “Holden Caulfield” comment implies that Storm’s worth lies is being sexually appealing to teenage boys. It’s depressing enough that being attractive is so much more of a job requirement for female reporters than for male ones (not that it doesn’t help some male reporters get ahead; I just think men have a lot more leeway); now respected reporters with many years in the business are castigated for not being “fantasy” material for boys young enough to be their sons?
Also, Kornheiser’s “apology” sucked. Why bother to say anything if you’re going to take so little responsibility for what comes out of your mouth?
Finally, Storm’s outfit? It looks a little costumey to me. I hate saying that older women (or men) don’t have the right to wear what they want to wear. I mean, I do have those thoughts but I hate saying it because it just seems mean and who am I to tell someone that they are too old to wear a short skirt? It’s not an unflattering outfit, it’s just bit much with the length of the skirt and the boots being red…if the boots had been black I think it would’ve been a more sophisticated look. There’s the issue of dressing appropriately for your job, not just your age, and I think Storm is a bit off the mark there. Though I don’t blame her entirely; as Kornheiser’s remarks indicate, female reporters are put in a difficult position, having to balance precariously between being professional and being eye-candy.
Big Disclaimer that I know nothing of these people. I think she looks fine and can wear what she wants. However, she’s on tv, it’s normal for people to criticize your look. I think what he said was mean. It could have all been meaningless banter, but he crossed a line by implying she was fat. It makes him sound like a sexist bully. I can’t believe he was suspended for 2 weeks. That doesn’t seem right unless he’s been reprimanded before. I know people say deplorable things and need to be accountable, but I hate seeing people persecuted for just letting something stupid slip. He’s paid to banter and make stupid jokes.
I agree that the red top, red short skirt and red boot combo is all a bit much. He should never have said those things, I’m sure he wouldn’t focus on a male colleague’s clothing. I actually think it’s probably too short for work period, regardless of age but that’s just me. I think a 2 week suspension might be a little extreme- unless he has a history of this (I don’t know).
It seems so childish, how did he wind up on this topic anyway? Slow sports day?
I have the same disclaimer as Lily. I have no idea who these people are. Also, another disclaimer: I have no fashion sense, lol.
I like her name.
Oh, that’s a hideous outfit. She’s got a great body, but cherry red? I agree Samantha, it’s inappropriate for work. I don’t think people should be able to just show up in “whatever” they want. Why ESPN thinks this is ok is beyond me. Why doesn’t she refuse to be dressed on camera like, let’s face it, “a Holden Caufield fantasy.” I sure wish she had said it in defiance and not this other guy. As for him: too bad. I think that people should dress AND speak appropriately at work.
Can we stop this incessant hammering of people for saying nothing!!! What has happened to us where everything we say is sooooo insensitive that we can’t handle it???? I think kids should be off-limits (see Letterman and The Family Guy) but adults are fair game. Let’s have fun and quit worrying about everybody’s attempt at humor.
This was a really bad outfit.
I am not sure someone should be suspended for something that he actually gets paid to do. Isn’t that somewhat the reason that people tune in to see him?
I don’t know bc I don’t watch him- never seen it. I don’t think he should have been suspended for 2 weeks, but I don’t want to a some middle aged man behaving like a 14 yr old boy. If you;re a jerk- be prepared for people to tell you so. I think his comments were really inappropriate and just plain mean- not to mention irrelevant. I still can’t figure out how he got on this topic. I thought he has a sports show? Maybe he should audition for something on Style or maybe E! since he’s so into fashion. Or he could just talk sports and leave fashion critiques to Joan Rivers.
I said upthread her outfit was fine and she can wear what she wants. I do expect her to dress appropriate for work. I think it’s acceptable and I guess it’s her style. It’s not to my taste.
I don’t like mean people and I don’t support what he said. I guess my point is that ESPN encourages his behavior because he is funny and brings in viewers and then turns around and slaps him with a suspension when he crosses a line that they seem to change whenever it fits their media needs.
I guess my point is that ESPN encourages his behavior because he is funny and brings in viewers and then turns around and slaps him with a suspension when he crosses a line that they seem to change whenever it fits their media needs. – Pam
I don’t want to spend too much time trying to understand what came out of his mouth. I do consider it offensive, but I also know it wasn’t a prepared well-thought out comment.
The sausage casing comment does seem to imply he thinks she looks fat in the outfit. I know teenage girls aren’t listening to Tony Kornheiser, but I still have a problem with him suggesting someone who looks like a size two on a “fat day” is fat.
Pam and Jeff, I understand your POV. I totally agree that the “behavior that crosses” the line can *change* whenever the corporate suits decide that it does. Maybe that’s unfair, but radio is a business like any business. ESPN has been getting flak for other issues relating to their treatment of women and Kornheiser had to take the heat for that. ESPN has to answer to their sponsors and when they are upset, ESPN doesn’t make as much money. I think it’s just business and luckily Kornheiser won’t be in the soup line due to his suspension.
Yeah, I have trouble seeing someone as privileged as Kornheiser as some sort of victim. I don’t know the behind-the-scenes facts, whether there were warnings or anything like that, but if he was suspended without warning or precedent, well, he’s in a better position than about 99% of the population to say “take this job and shove it”, and go somewhere else.
I just don’t get the appeal of the low-brow insult humor that I guess is Kornheiser’s stock in trade. And again, hearing how thin-skinned he himself apparently is makes me even less inclined to be at all sympathetic to him.
Yeah, I have trouble seeing someone as privileged as Kornheiser as some sort of victim.
Me too, Jennie. I think she had every right to complain to her bosses and have him suspended or whatever. Maybe he didn’t think her feelings would be as hurt or he thought he could get away with ribbing his co-worker like that. Even if that is his schtick, he should have a thicker skin. Can’t take what you dish, don’t dish.
Maybe that’s unfair, but radio is a business like any business. ESPN has been getting flak for other issues relating to their treatment of women and Kornheiser had to take the heat for that. ESPN has to answer to their sponsors and when they are upset, ESPN doesn’t make as much money. I think it’s just business and luckily Kornheiser won’t be in the soup line due to his suspension.
So true Anya. Sometimes the ad buyers dictate a lot more than what the listener knows. And suits will always try to keep their buyers happy, even if it’s before keeping their employees happy.
I tend to think Kornheiser deserved his suspension. Shtick or not. Think before you talk.