Karl Stefanovic with his wife, Cas
It was a weekend about bottoms really. First, the Royal Wedding scene-stealer, Pippa Middleton and then Karl Stefanovic’s wife, Cas, whose arse got a special shout-out when he accepted his Silver Logie for most popular TV presenter.
Offices and playgroups, watercoolers and dinner tables are buzzing about these two very fine arses and we are a country divided.
While I haven’t heard anyone complain about the rapture shown towards Pippa Middleton’s arse – it has its own twitter account and Facebook appreciation pages – some are upset that Karl mentioned how great his wife’s bottom is.
Amanda Meade, TV reporter for The Australian writes:
Representing the old style, typified by McGuire and The Footy Show, Karl Stefanovic may have taken home the Gold Logie, but he came away looking like a dinosaur. His crass speech accepting his first Logie displayed all the sexism of the old Channel Nine in all it’s blokey glory.
Calling fellow Gold nominee Swan “a good sort”, a compliment he also handed to his co-host, Lisa Wilkinson, Stefanovic said: “Lisa is not only a great sort, but has been a great calming effect on my life.”
Of his wife, Cas, sitting in the room, he said: “She has been a great influence on my life and has also got the best arse I have ever seen.”
Seven’s Johanna Griggs, accepting a Logie for Better Homes and Gardens, took him to task on it, and the room was with her.
“Karl, we don’t have bum and boobs jokes; it’s just nice family viewing.”
I thought it was funny and not the least bit offensive. What did you think? Karl was trying to compliment his wife, his fellow nominee and his co-host. By mentioning that they were beautiful or hot or a good sort…..is that sexist? Offensive?
The Facebook page for the Pippa Middleton Ass Appreciation Society
The first thing I said when I sat down at my table at the extraordinary Ultimate Girly High Tea yesterday (I’ll be writing more about that on Friday so check back for a full run down) was “So! How about Pippa Middleton’s arse!” and the conversation rolled from there. We had women of several different generations at the table including a 12yo girl called Abby and her mother. We were united as one in our appreciation for Pippa’s arse.
Was that sexist? Inappropriate?
When Jana Wendt came on TV last night to present a Logie for something-or-other, I tweeted: “Wow. Jana Wendt just made me feel better about growing older.” She was luminescant.
Was it sexist of me to not mention her accomplishments as a journalist? Or is it OK to sometimes just compliment people for looking beautiful? I thought the same about Best New Female Talent winner Chrissie Swan. She glowed. And it takes a lot of effort to get gussied up for one of those things – an awards ceremony, a wedding, a party…..surely compliments about the result of all that gussying are OK?
Luminous: Chrissie Swan
Sometimes, people question how we can run our red carpet frockwatch galleries here on Mamamia when we claim to be a site that cares about body image. I do often feel frustrated when women are reduced SOLELY to a description of their parts. Are compliments sexist however? I’m genuinely interested to know where you stand on this.
My belief on that subject is this: I think we should celebrate people for all kinds of things. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying someone wore a nice frock or discuss their choice of interesting hat.
Yes, fashion is entirely superficial. So are red carpets. That’s the point of them. Not rocket science. Not brain surgery. Not a damning indictment or raging endorsement of the kind of PERSON someone is.
I think it would be sad if we became afraid to compliment people. For all sorts of reasons, not just the way they look. I’m a big fan of the compliment – they make people feel good and can that be bad?
Obviously, Karl is a friend. I’m not hiding that. I know the incredibly high regard he has for Lisa and his wife and the other women he works with. I also know Cas and she has some pretty fantastic thoughts on that subject herself (you can read about them here).
But I’d say the same thing about anyone else in the same situation.
What do you think? Should Karl NOT have said his wife had a great arse? Is it insulting to describe someone a ‘a good sort’? And are you a facebook friend of Pippa’s arse?
To see all the red carpet looks from the 2011 Logies, you can view our gallery here
Comments
238 Comments so far
What Karl said was funny and I don’t see what the big deal is. He genuinely seems to care for his wife, and she him. Mia, talking about the red carpet frocks is fun! Don’t can it. Keep up the top work. Hope u can get Karl on mamamia soon.
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My first thought was how stoked I’d be if my husband got up in front of everyone and complimented my arse…
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Well If it was Deborah Lee Furness accepting the award and she complimented her husbands arse she would have a room full of women screaming and agreeing. The PC police are so boring.
I think Karl was being lovely to women he obviously admires and adores. Whats wrong with that? And its all part of what seems to be his cheeky tongue in cheek ‘I’m hen pecked by strong women’ style.
I actually found Chrissie Swans comment to Andre Rieu embarressing. I think she’s too loud, cocky and outspoken.
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Just Karl being cheeky I thought, not offensive in the slightest & my wife didn’t think it was a big deal either.
Johanna Griggs came across as rather bitter & nasty though. Not so much for her swipe at Karl but the other comments she made about BH&G possibly getting the axe.
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I don’t think there was anything sexist about it, Karl’s wife might have asked if her arse looked big in that dress before they left the house and he might just have been reinforcing the emphatic ‘no’ he offered in response. He might have told her that her arse needed its own facebook appreciation page, and backed it up by saying it on national TV, I thought it was cute. Who knows, she didn’t look offended so why should anyone else? BUT, i’d take the same view if Brendan Fevola said that about Alex Fevola (unless she looked upset by it), but I don’t think we’d be having this conversation if it had been he who said it, or Shane Warne about Simone – when both couples were together of course, I tried to think of better examples but failed! Karl has a bit of reputation for getting a bit messy at these events, but he isn’t a footballer …. are we measuring what he says and does by a different yardstick????
Reading these comments I’m just disappointed I didn’t pay more attention to the TV last night, because I missed Johanna’s, Karl’s and the other two people are saying made inappropriate comments!
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I have no problem with him saying that about his arse… but commenting on the looks of his colleagues? um awkward and a bit unprofessional. If my colleague gave me an award and said I was a good sort I would find that weird.
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I think they’re very good friends as well as colleagues – she didn’t seem to mind.
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I think it was meant for the guys, it got a laugh, his wife laughed but it wasn’t particularly appropriate for the time/situation
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“I think it would be sad if we became afraid to compliment people.”
I’m sure it wasn’t your intention, but this comment does come off sounding a bit like some office dinosaur complaining that sexual harassment rules mean he can’t tell the secretary she has nice tits.
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Agreed. I think there’s a way to compliment a woman without making her feel like a piece of meat. For example, tell her she’s beautiful rather than honing in on various body parts.
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Wow I’m kind of surprised at the comments so far. I share Johanna Griggs and Amanda Meade’s sentiments entirely. From Shane Bourne ogling the young woman who was the ‘award carrier’, to Firass Dirani screaming at Katy Perry to ‘have his babies’ and then Karl Stefanovic’s oafish comments, the whole thing was intensely uncomfortable to watch. I’m 23 and not conservative by any means but the telecast smacked of the kind of paternalistic sexism that I imagine was rife in the 1950s (and as we’ve recently witnessed, ADFA).
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I think ‘good sort’ is a fine comment…there’s not too much in it and it’s very basic langauage.
The whole arse thing I don’t get…it seems so pointless of men to comment on the fat on our bottom cheeks..I don’t and never have understood the appeal in. Surely there is more a person than the padding they use on their backside for warmth and comfort.
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From one faux pas to the next, within two years Karl goes from Logie drunk to Gold Logie chunk.
Great topic but Mia as a friend of Karl and his wife you would understand his sense of humour more than the average Joe watching the Logies, and hence you wouldn’t find it the least bit offensive, they’re you’re friends.
Karl is part of Channel Nine’s blokey culture, the Channel Nine board of directors are all male (Tim Parker, David Gyngell, Andrew Cummins, Adrian McKenzie and Pat O’Sullivan) and the management team are all male (David Gyngell, Jeffrey Browne and Brett Dickson) and his comment just makes him sound like one of the boys.
If his wife was fat would he have made the same comment – no way – he thinks she looks great but did he have to share it with all of Australia?
Johanna Griggs was right to pull him up, imagine if she had made the same comment about her husband on national tv?
Would we have all been laughing?
No because we don’t even know her husband.
Plus what does it have to do with winning a Logie?
Nothing.
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Karl not Carl…
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I think the timing was off. If he hadn’t of followed Firass Dirani and Shane Bourne who made uncomfortable comments I don’t think anyone would of cared. There was nothing wrong with the comment at all.
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What a joke, Amanda Meade should get with the times. Why the hell cant a bloke give a compliment about his wife? Regardless of it being a body part or their personality.
Has anyone asked Lisa or Chrissy how they feel about the the “good sort” comment? Cause they’re the only people who should feel offended or appreciative, perhaps Amanda Meade article could have found out how they felt instead of rubbishing a guy giving out compliments.
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oh PLEASE. I suppose we have to stop looking at men’s body’s now? Bid farewell to the old topless centrefold? Each to their own, but really does anyone have the right to be offended on Cass’ behalf? She didn’t appear alarmed by the comment, so none of us should be up in arms about it. I also thought Pippa looked smoking. And I adore Karl. I love watching him, he’s hilarious and honest and genuine. Go Karl!!
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Over the weekend I saw and heard from a heap of the MM tribe. About a bazillion people told Bern Morley she had a great arse (she does, atop ridiculously long legs) and Mia told me my boobs were looking good. Not one of these comments was made in a creepy, sexual sense (I’m hoping). You know fun when you hear it.
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That is SO true. I am constantly telling women how hot they look or that their boobs look great or their hair is gorgeous…..
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But don’t you think there’s a massive difference between a woman commenting on another woman’s body parts and a man making the same comment? Would you feel the same if a man on the street came up to you and told you you had nice boobs? Probably not.
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You wouldn’t do it to a stranger – boob and arse comments, that is. But it’s nice to say something nice about how even strangers look, as long as the comment is genuine. I heard Mia also told a waitress how great her lipstick looked. The girl positively beamed.
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Kate how you can think that is the same thing? You are so out of touch
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It’s all about picking your audience. Don’t offer a compliment if you’re not sure it’ll be well received. That goes for compliments from men to women, women to men, men to men …. Karl said his WIFE had a nice arse. He must have been pretty sure she’d be happy to hear it. By all accounts she didn’t have a problem.
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I personally though Johanna Griggs came off seeming very bitter and ungracious. She should have just accepted the award and not made it about anyone other than the team of people who work on Better Homes and Gardens. She took the spotlight away from the people who put that show together.
I doubt very much that Karl wanted to offend anyone – he just wanted to compliment his wife, and that is how he did it. It may not be the way that all men would compliment their wife, but it was his way.
I think people need to get over it – normal, unsanitised society makes comments like this. It is not meant to be taken so seriously.
Oh, and by the way, what would have happened if it was a woman making a comment about her husband’s arse? I doubt there would be much mention of it.
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What a bummer of a weekend! Just kidding. I know Karl is not a sexist so I just thought it was funny. You can tell he loves his wife and family. He may have also been delirious after flying from the royal wedding straight to the Logies. If I could speak at all after doing all he has done this past week then I’d be proud of myself.
Johanna Griggs came over as a nerdy schoolgirl for her comments in response.
Looks like Pippa’s arse could set her up for a career bigger than Kim Kardashian’s and J.Lo’s.
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Bummer! Lol!
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How refreshing to see a man who finds his wife not just “supportive” and “a good mum” or “my best friend” or even the overused and underwhelming “beautiful”, but sexy. And brave enough to say it out loud. It wasn’t about someone else’s wife or a young starlet. That would be inappropriate.
I’m confident that Cass would have blushed a bit, but she also would have been totally as hot for her husband in that moment as he was for her. Nothing sexier, more right or rare than that these days.
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Yeah, I much prefer his comments than hearing how “truly blessed” someone is for the 7 gazillionth time!
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I think the way the compliment was expressed here was the key, not the sentiment itself. A couple of people thanked their ‘beautiful’ partners, male and female, and well done to them. But to say someone has a ‘nice arse’ on national television for mine just a little too explicit – I suspect it was a sweet joke between them, which is sweet- but something that should stay private, or at least be expressed a little less graphically. A bit like jokes about wedding nights during the wedding reception- everyone knows what you’re talking about, but it’s more appropriate to leave it at a wink and a smile than say ‘hope you guys have fantastic sex’.
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I thought it was fine what he said, & seriously it was light humour, not offensive AT ALL. Others should get over it. All we do s comment on bodies, she has a great this, a fat that, blah blah blah, aren’t we supposed to be having positive body images & think good of others? Well that’s all I ready about in glossy mags, & thats exactly what he did of the others in “Karls way”. I think Karl is great & showed he still is attracted to his wife. Good for both of them say. I do agree with Claudia acknowledgement for the beautiful Lisa would have been lovely.
Kylie (Melbourne)
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I don’t think it’s sexist or inappropriate at all – and I don’t agree that the room was “with” Johanna Griggs when she had a go at him. I thought I heard a boo or two directed at her? Johanna Griggs came off as having sour grapes, I thought Karl was just having fun and as long as his wife didn’t mind, we shouldn’t mind!
I agree, we should celebrate people for all sorts of things and not take ourselves so seriously. The other day I asked my boyfriend why he loved me and his response was “it must be your great arse”. Not the “for your wit, charm, independence and smarts my darling”, I expected but I appreciate the appreciation ;0)
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Agree. I normally really like Johanna but those comments made me cringe and thought they were unnecessary. out of character and took away from the award she was accepting.
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If Karl had said “She has been a great influence on my life and is the most beautiful woman in the world” everyone would think it was sweet.
What’s the difference really? One says specifically her arse is great, one says she is attractive, both superficially compliment her looks. Both, in that sense, would be derogatory.
I don’t care. Karl probably put his hand on his wife’s arse and didn’t care either!
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I’m not a huge Karl fan but I do think he was talking from his heart and not being a sexist pig. I thought Johanna Griggs comment was rather rude, the timing was inappropriate, and it was quite off putting.
God forbid the man should find his wife hot after years of marriage.
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It’s not sexist to tell the whole world that you think your wife is hot.
The whole world is going mad over Pippa M’s arse and Karl chose his moment onstage to say he preferred his wife’s derrier. Frankly, I think many blokes could take a leaf from Karl’s book by taking their eyes off other women’s bodies and celebrate the women they married instead. (And fwiw he went thru many of his wife’s less arsey attributes in his Gold Logie speech)
Personally, I think it’s refreshing to see the Stefanovics and their PDAs. What’s not to love about a smart, fun couple in love?
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AND … Chrissie Swan’s comment to Andre Rieu “If I were only 30 years older” was hilarious. But if it were from a young male to an older woman we’d be outraged.
We can’t have it both ways.
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I thought ‘a good sort’ means like a good person in general, that it’s not specific to women or looks?
I think mentioning his wife’s bum is cute. She’s his wife. It would be different if he’d said it about someone else.
The talk about Pippa’s bum is just stupid. That’s really what people took away from watching the wedding? Lame.
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Me too, Melissa. I thought being called a “good sort” meant that you were an all-round great girl. I personally take it as a compliment!
And I know Chrissie Swan. She IS a good sort.
PS How often do women bang on and on with jokes about Hugh Jackman and Colin Firth and presenters are always making little jokes about them taking off their shirts or feeling their muscles. HELLO? DOUBLE STANDARD! Karl’s wife probably does have a great arse. All credit to her!
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Well Hugh Jackman should be nude. All the time. That’s a given.
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And so should the Commando
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Yes, I befriended Pippa’s arse on Facebook.
When she came out of that car and into the church I thought she looked gorgeous and smokin’ hot. I can appreciate beauty in all its forms and I think she took it all in good humour as she commented on the ass appreciation page and said “I’m flattered”.
It just depends on the mood (and my mood) if i get offended at blokes talking about how much of a good sort someone is, or if their arse needs appreciating. Today, I can see the humour and ignore the sexist undertones of what was said at the logies.
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good bums deserve a compliment!
go ahead and compliment away.
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I think if you have watched Karl for years, as I have, you pretty quickly know its just his sense of humour shining through. I dont think his wife looked offended, that’s the main thing, isnt it? And it was his award, his speech, so he can say as he pleases, cant he? Even though I thought Jo Griggs was a little rude, she is entitled to the same. I’d have thought more would be made of her out of character cheap shot…
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I’m more offended he didn’t thank and acknowledge his gracious co-host Lisa Wilkinson when he won the gold logie.
I think the main thing I found a bit dinosaur about his speech is while there’s nothing wrong with complimenting someone’s looks, it might have also been nice if he’d spoken about his wife’s passion or Lisa’s talent or Chrissie’s humour.
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Karl made a big deal of thanking Lisa when he won the silver logie and waht a great “calming” influence she has been on his career
It is funny to think about how he was nearly axed a few years ago and it is only when Lisa came on board that this show started taking off. They are a great combo and good on the both of them – big effort to fly back from London and go straight to the logies !!
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I was also ‘shocked’ that he didn’t thank Lisa?
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