It's bikini weather in the studio ... but too hot for some viewers
By Xu Chi |
June 13, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Models wearing bikinis to host the nightly weather forecast on Guangdong TV have been forced to cover up after a wave of complaints.
Viewers in southern Guangdong Province who tuned in to watch the Euro 2012 soccer tournament and watched as the girls described weather conditions at the stadiums said they "dressed too sexy."
The Europa Weather Forecast, just one minute long, has been screened at 11:15pm every evening since last Saturday.
On Saturday's program, two young women, both contestants in a bikini competition organized by Guangdong TV, wore black and orange bikinis to forecast the weather. There was an immediate reaction online.
Some viewers warmly welcomed the program, praising it as "innovative."
One commented on Weibo: "Of course I strongly support the TV station for presenting such an unprecedented program to entertain us," but then added: "It would be better if they chose some better looking girls."
Others complained that it might have a bad effect on children.
"What a low-taste show," said one microblogger. "There's nothing wrong with wearing bikinis, but not in a TV program available to everyone, including children."
An unnamed TV official told the Guangdong-based New Express Daily that, under pressure from viewers, they had decided that the models should wear T-shirts instead of bikini tops.
"Actually, we are trying to promote our Miss Bikini contest by presenting the program during Euro 2012," he said. "We have held the contest for four years but never sparked such controversy.
"We are trying to promote the idea of being healthy, fresh and vital, but netizens would rather relate the program to sensuality."
The bikini contest is due to be held after the soccer tournament ends.
On Sunday's program, a model delivered the forecast dressed in a skirt and bikini top while holding a football against her waist.
On Monday's program, another model was dressed in T-shirt and shorts.
"I think the weather is getting colder and colder each day," was one online comment mocking the increased cover-up.
"We respect the opinion of some netizens so we made the changes," the TV official said. "But personally, I think some people made too much fuss about the issue. In this modern age, many young girls appear on websites wearing only bikinis or even less."
An online poll held by Sina Weibo after the controversy arose found that more than 60 percent of almost 6,000 respondents said they welcomed the bikini-wearing forecasters.
Fewer than 30 percent felt that the program was in poor taste while the rest had no feelings one way or the other.
One of the models, Hu Qiqi, told the New Express Daily that she was confused as to why the show had become so controversial.
"I used to wear just a bikini in front of cameras in competitions, now I wear the same bikini but at a different place and people start to talk about it," she said. "Isn't the bikini a sign of sunny weather and health? Why, to many people, it is considered vulgar and inappropriate?"
That view was supported by a professor at Shanghai's Fudan University.
Gu Xiaoming, history professor with the university's cultural heritage protection department, said: "The audience should judge the bikini weather forecast with a modern view.
"If someone looks at everything with a dirty mind, even a woman wrapping herself in thick clothes would look pornographic."
Viewers in southern Guangdong Province who tuned in to watch the Euro 2012 soccer tournament and watched as the girls described weather conditions at the stadiums said they "dressed too sexy."
The Europa Weather Forecast, just one minute long, has been screened at 11:15pm every evening since last Saturday.
On Saturday's program, two young women, both contestants in a bikini competition organized by Guangdong TV, wore black and orange bikinis to forecast the weather. There was an immediate reaction online.
Some viewers warmly welcomed the program, praising it as "innovative."
One commented on Weibo: "Of course I strongly support the TV station for presenting such an unprecedented program to entertain us," but then added: "It would be better if they chose some better looking girls."
Others complained that it might have a bad effect on children.
"What a low-taste show," said one microblogger. "There's nothing wrong with wearing bikinis, but not in a TV program available to everyone, including children."
An unnamed TV official told the Guangdong-based New Express Daily that, under pressure from viewers, they had decided that the models should wear T-shirts instead of bikini tops.
"Actually, we are trying to promote our Miss Bikini contest by presenting the program during Euro 2012," he said. "We have held the contest for four years but never sparked such controversy.
"We are trying to promote the idea of being healthy, fresh and vital, but netizens would rather relate the program to sensuality."
The bikini contest is due to be held after the soccer tournament ends.
On Sunday's program, a model delivered the forecast dressed in a skirt and bikini top while holding a football against her waist.
On Monday's program, another model was dressed in T-shirt and shorts.
"I think the weather is getting colder and colder each day," was one online comment mocking the increased cover-up.
"We respect the opinion of some netizens so we made the changes," the TV official said. "But personally, I think some people made too much fuss about the issue. In this modern age, many young girls appear on websites wearing only bikinis or even less."
An online poll held by Sina Weibo after the controversy arose found that more than 60 percent of almost 6,000 respondents said they welcomed the bikini-wearing forecasters.
Fewer than 30 percent felt that the program was in poor taste while the rest had no feelings one way or the other.
One of the models, Hu Qiqi, told the New Express Daily that she was confused as to why the show had become so controversial.
"I used to wear just a bikini in front of cameras in competitions, now I wear the same bikini but at a different place and people start to talk about it," she said. "Isn't the bikini a sign of sunny weather and health? Why, to many people, it is considered vulgar and inappropriate?"
That view was supported by a professor at Shanghai's Fudan University.
Gu Xiaoming, history professor with the university's cultural heritage protection department, said: "The audience should judge the bikini weather forecast with a modern view.
"If someone looks at everything with a dirty mind, even a woman wrapping herself in thick clothes would look pornographic."
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