It's never OK to comment on a woman's body, and one Canadian news anchor has had enough. Leslie Horton, an on-air anchor for Global News Calgary, got an email from a viewer criticizing the way her pants made her look. Fed up with men's comments on her body, and women's bodies in general, she used her time on camera to stand up for herself.
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Shortly after her morning traffic report on November 29, Horton received an email from a viewer.
"Congratulations on your pregnancy. If you’re going to wear old bus driver pants, you can expect emails like this," the email read.
Unfortunately, Horton was all too familiar with this viewer. "He’s reached out several times over the years, and his intent is always to humiliate and hurt me," she explained to Today.
"We’re not supposed to respond to trolls — so I had no plans to address it, but then the words just came out of my mouth. I had this visceral reaction," she explained.
That's when she took her grievances on-air. She began by explaining that she was going to address an email she had received.
"No, I’m not pregnant. I actually lost my uterus to cancer last year, and this is what women my age look like," Horton began, speaking directly to the camera. "So, if it’s offensive to you, that is unfortunate. Think about the emails you send."
She noted in the interview that she had shared her cancer journey on air, so the emailer "very likely" knew about it.
"I had a radical hysterectomy, which means they don’t just take your uterus, they take everything — and it immediately impacts the shape of your body," she revealed.
"Maybe I was responding to the pregnancy, no uterus, cancer thing," she shared. "Or maybe it’s just the fact that I’m tired that female broadcasters — and women in general — are being treated this way."
Horton revealed that she got "thousands" of messages of support from both men and women. Global News shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), and there were many supportive comments.
"Good for her. I wish she said who it was so they could be properly shamed," one person wrote.
"Sorry you have to deal with trolls Leslie. Keep being you & beautiful. ," another wrote.
"You're a cancer warrior and a champion for women everywhere! Keep doing what you're doing! ," the Canadian Cancer Society wrote.
When asked if she'd wear the pants again, Horton didn't hesitate: "Damn straight!"
"I will continue wearing the pants, and I will continue going on TV because you telling me I’m old, ugly and fat doesn’t change the way I feel about myself," she said.
Horton also made an excellent point: "I also believe that your local news station should reflect your community, and guess what? There are other 59-year-old women out there!"
