A BBC news presenter has refused to bow to online cruelty after being brutally mocked for wearing what critics branded “far too tight” leather trousers — instead firing back with a bold message: she’s not backing down.
Amanda Harper, 52, who appears on BBC Look North, originally shared a clip of herself on Instagram back in February, confidently modelling the outfit ahead of going on air. Dressed in leather trousers paired with a blouse, she described the look as a subtle nod to 90s fashion.
But the reaction online quickly turned sour.
Trolls flooded the comments with harsh jabs, branding the outfit “unflattering” and even cruelly calling her “mutton dressed as lamb,” alongside other insults like “terrible” and “horrid.”
Yet amid the backlash, many fans rushed to defend her — praising her confidence and style, calling her “gorgeous,” “beautiful,” and “fabulous,” with one supporter cheering: “You go, Amanda!”
Now, weeks later, Amanda has had the final word.
In a new video shared to Instagram, she once again slipped into the same leather trousers — this time addressing the backlash head-on. She acknowledged that the clip had sparked “a wave of nasty comments,” but made it clear she wasn’t letting negativity dictate her choices.
She told followers that while the criticism was loud, kindness was louder, adding that she was “delighted that lovely people outnumber the not so lovely.” And then came her punchline: the trousers are staying — and she might even wear them more often.
“The trousers live on,” she said defiantly, before doubling down in the video itself: “Most people were kind. The trousers stay.”
Her response only strengthened support from fans, who once again flooded her comments with encouragement. Some urged her to wear the outfit more often just to “hack off the haters,” while others praised her confidence, insisting she dresses for herself — not for anyone else’s approval.
One fan summed up the mood perfectly, writing that every time they watch her on Look North, they admire her style and how “lovely” she always looks.
The moment has quickly become another example of how public figures — especially women — continue to face intense scrutiny over their appearance. But Amanda’s unapologetic response has flipped the narrative, turning criticism into a statement of self-confidence.
