This camera operator says she was fired for being 'too attractive'
Freelance camera operator Emma Hulse is claiming that she was fired from a London, U.K.-based television station for being “too attractive.”
The 24-year-old claims she was five minutes into her shift when a manager asked her to go home, Hulse told the Evening Standard.
“Then my agent text me that I’m no longer required,” she said. “I got there and spoke to the line manager and he asked me, ‘Are you a model? Are you not doing catwalks, why are you not at the front of house?’”
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The sexist comments forced Hulse to consider her appearance and whether she was dressed inappropriately for the freelance shift at London TV station, UNIT TV. A common occurrence for women in the workplace.
“I was wearing a lipstick but from my perspective I was not inappropriate. I was wearing a shirt and trousers. I really didn’t think I looked inappropriate,” she said.
Before sending her home, the manager asked for her number and suggested they grab a drink, Hulse added.
Adam Luckwell, the owner of UNIT TV, acknowledged the incident and has since fired the manager who was currently working under a three-month probation period.
“We decided not to continue with the employment and terminated the contract within three months,“ he told the Evening Standard.
“We felt he was a bad fit for us and some of the things he was doing was not in line with the company’s policy.”
ALSO SEE: This sports reporter was nearly fired for being ‘too attractive’
Hulse freelances at other companies and says she has not received sexist comments in the past — and will continue her work in the industry.
“Maybe that company employs plain looking people and maybe if you don’t look that way they don’t take you, maybe I was a distraction… within a creative agency you should be free to wear what you want.”
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