Oprah Winfrey's magazine blasted for saying women need a flat stomach for crop tops

Home Top

Billion-dollar drug lord on the run: Manhunt for 'El Chapo' who's escaped from Mexican prison for the second time after going for a shower... and entering his secret MILE-LONG tunnel to freedom
John Gotti personally executed the real-life Joe Pesci 'Goodfella' on the night he was due to be 'made' - after the victim tried to rape a fellow gangster's wife, new book reveals
Can you solve this antique collector's clues that will lead you to gold-filled treasure chest buried in the desert?
Putin plays his card as he offers energy deal to Greece while Germany is warned it would be 'fatal' to throw them out of Eurozone
Bobby Brown and his wife welcome baby girl as Bobbi Kristina enters third week in hospice care
Finally, some advice that could save your marriage: How the experts say you should stack the dishwasher
Hop on board! Raft guide rescues an abandoned bear cub from a river by coaxing her onto his boat and paddling her to safety
Two flight attendants and a passenger taken to hospital after Washington-bound United Airlines flight rocked by severe turbulence
Cities across the country report a 'scary' rise in violent crime: Shootings rise by up to 18 per cent after months of anti-cop anger
Enraged author issues withering riposte to Twitter troll for body-shaming Wimbledon champion Serena Williams
Roger Federer's formula for final? Renting TWO houses to avoid being disturbed by his young family
Why don't Wimbledon TWIGS at least do some knitting? writes LIZ JONES
King Novak! Djokovic beats Roger Federer in dramatic Wimbledon final for second successive year in front of a star-studded crowd
Phew! £2,000 for filthy band Andy Murray threw to Camilla who was sitting in the Royal Box on Centre Court
Nick returns Pat's serve: Tennis bad boy Kyrgios tweets - and then deletes - his anger after Rafter said we need 'stars Australia can be proud of'
'Thanks to Donald Trump the Republican mascot is also an ass': Letterman abandons retirement to deliver withering Top Ten list mocking controversial candidate at Steve Martin's comedy show
New Reddit CEO tries to win over users in midst of scandal that saw popular employee fired and ex-boss Ellen Pao forced out during 'revolt' staged by unpaid moderators
John Kerry says deal with Iran is 'within reach' as decision on nuclear talks is postponed until Monday
Trump takes incendiary immigration views to the GOP faithful: Tycoon says he'd fine 'cunning' Mexico $100,000 for every illegal immigrant who crosses border in order to 'take back our country'
Rescue pilot Wills takes to the air again: Prince starts news job with air ambulance team (and he'll have to take a packed lunch because there's no canteen)
Harry the tusk warrior: War veteran Prince is back in the front line - fighting ivory poachers with helicopter team over Namibian national park
Why do you always get ill on vacation? Experts reveal ten reasons for feeling below par on your travels and how you can stop poor health from sabotaging this year's break
How the world's newest glacier is forming on Washington's Mount St. Helens... site of the deadliest volcanic eruption in US history
A quickie Vegas ceremony in a blue mini dress vs. a three-day London fete in regal Valentino: How Nicky Hilton's 2004 wedding differed in every way from her 2015 palace vows (except sister Paris who made it to both)

The backlash came out against the magazine after a Q&A article in the August issue advised women not to buy a crop top without a flat stomach
The comment, which is accused of being body-shaming, seemed out of place to critics given Oprah's well publicized struggles with weight

Published: 15:52 EST, 10 July 2015 | Updated: 18:41 EST, 10 July 2015

View
comments

The writers at Oprah's magazine O made quite the fashion faux pas in their latest issue, by stating that readers should only wear crop tops 'if (and only if!) you have a flat stomach’.

A Brooklyn-based writer Tamar Anitai spotted the controversial feature and quickly posted it to her Instagram, expressing her surprise 'to see this level of #bodyshaming in Oprah magazine’. She added: ‘The feature is about women feeling healthy. Part of health is self-esteem and that's intrinsically connected to body image.

'Stop telling women what they CAN'T wear. We can wear and do and be ANYTHING that makes us feel strong, powerful, passionate and in charge of our own destinies.

Kicking off: A social media storm has erupted after O Magazine released an article stating that women should only wear crop tops 'if (and only if' they have flat stomachs

Outrage: Brooklyn-based writer Tamar Anitai spotted the article and posted it to her Instagram telling magazines to 'stop telling women what they CAN'T wear'

A misstep: The article has caused a huge online backlash against TV star Oprah's O Magazine

'I hope young women and women of any age don't feel like they're restricted by editorially imposed fashion "rules". The only rules are there are no rules. Wear what you love, what makes you feel confident, and own it. Confidence is power, and it's contagious.'

Similarly unhappy readers, inspired by Tamar's words, were quick to hit back at the suggestion, taking to social media to post images of themselves showing off their midriffs in a variety of crop tops - flat stomachs or not.

Plus-sized model Tess Holliday was among the more high-profile women to join in the trend, which was started by blogger Sara Conley, whose article, Don't Let O Magazine Tell You That You Can't #RockTheCrop Top, about the issue ended with an open call for women to take to the web and post their own crop top selfies using the hashtag #rockthecrop.

'Flat stomachs are like thigh gaps – we’re not all meant to have one,' she wrote.

Star power: Plus-sized model Tess Holliday joined in on the trend with her own stylish crop top

To the source: Tess directed her body confident photo post at Oprah herself saying that 'anyone can wear a crop top'

Tess Holliday gets into her bikini for Simply Be's new campaign

Rocking the crop: After the faux pas was spotted in the magazine, women of all shapes and sizes began posting photos of themselves wearing the midriff-baring posts

Hitting back: Many of the women participating in the trend directed their tweets at the magazine

Revolution: Dozens of women have joined in on the social media movement, all under the #RocktheCrop hashtag

Showing off: This user hit back with a confident message about how 'cute' she looks in her black cropped tank

Dozens of women of all shapes and sizes have since come out in force to support the new movement.

'Only women with flat stomachs can wear crop tops @O_Magazine - I beg to differ,' wrote one user, showing off her mid-section in a black crop over a leopard skirt.

'The minute I read it, I knew I had to #RocktheCrop,' wrote another. '@O_Magazine we make our own rules!'

Plus-sized model Tess led even more women into the trend, posting a pouty mirror selfie in a crop top bearing the words 'Barbie' and 'Perfect'.

'Dear @Oprah anyone can wear a crop top. #effyourbeautystandards,' she tweeted with the photo.

Missed the memo: This curvaceous lady joined the fun with a white crop matched with a pleated black skirt

Get it straight: The trend has gained steam over the past two days with dozens of women across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook joining in

A matching set: This smiley women stunned in her matching monochrome crop top and pencil skirt

Forging ahead: This user used her photo to tell the offending mag that women 'make our own rules'

Proving their point: A red crop top, jeans and a camera phone were all this user needed to make her statement

Slighted: Some of the women posted lighthearted messages, while others scolded the magazine for its restrictive message

Oprah herself is no stranger to the crop top, and even appeared on a 2005 cover of her O Magazine when she was down to toned 160 pounds, wearing a light blue crop matched with blue sweatpants.

The same image was used again four years later in 2009 for a cover featuring the TV star who at the time admitted to gaining back 40 pounds since the photo was taken, asking: 'How did I let this happen again?'

The cover also features the Oprah at the time, also wearing a matching work out outfit, but with a sweatshirt in place of the crop top worn by the slimmer version of herself.

Trim and toned: In this O Magazine cover from 2005, Oprah was 160 pounds and showed off her taut tummy in a light blue crop top

Repeat: The 2005 image was used once again by the magazine in 2009 for a cover feature that saw Oprah admit to gaining 40 pounds over the four years. Her current self was features without a crop top

Not a stranger: Oprah is seen baring her midsection in a fetching sports bra at Disney in this undated photo

Many of the #RocktheCrop tweets have been aimed at the writer of the article, O's creative director Adam Glassman, who responded to one saying: 'Bravo. And fun!'

Following the backlash, O Magazine have also released a statement saying: 'We support, encourage and empower all women to look great, feel confident and live their best lives – in this case, we could have expressed it better.

'We appreciate the feedback and will be more mindful going forward.'