A blogger for CBS Houston criticized a cheerleader for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a blog post with headline asking, "Is This Girl 'Too Chunky' To Be a Cheerleader?
The post prompted anger from readers, who responded by writing supportive comments for the cheerleader and criticizing the author of the article.
"If she's comfortable wearing that tiny outfit and dancing for NBA fans, then good for her," writes blogger Claire Crawford about cheerleader Kelsey Williams in a commentary that has since been removed by CBS.
"We're not trying to be ugly," Crawford wrote. "We think she's beautiful." A sentiment she clearly reflects in a poll asking readers to choose from possible answers that include, "She could use some tightening up in her midsection," and, "She has no business wearing that outfit in front of people."
Crawford goes on to say that "some folks in OKC" criticized Williams "pudginess."
"Whoever approved this article for publication should be fired," wrote reader Jarvis Jones.
"It's articles like this that lead young women and girls to anorexia and bulimia," wrote another reader, Kevin Williams.
"To be womanly always, discouraged never," Williams wrote on her Twitter account. "We wouldn't know what blessings were if we didn't go through trials."
"Thank you to EVERYONE for the compassion and love today," she added. "I'm in awe."
Many readers expressed surprise that an article criticizing an objectifying someone in this manner was written by a woman.
"This is disgusting," wrote reader Allison Sullivan. "Considering a WOMAN write this just blows my mind."
The Houston Chronicle has reported that "Claire Crawford" is a pseudonym for blogger Anna-Megan Raley, who writes for CBS Houston under her real name as well. Raley has deleted her Twitter accounts under both names after the negative response to the post, according to ABC News.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
