As a public figure, Cathryn Li (李元玲) is no stranger to criticism and unsolicited opinions. It comes with a territory, especially when one has a large following and a platform.
Recently, a Chinese publication poked fun of the influencer’s “sexy” attire when she was photographed in her ballet attire. It seemed like the author has a bone to pick with her choice of clothing. Refusing to stay silent, she put them on blast for objectifying her.
In her IG Story, Cathryn asked a rhetorical question, “What do you expect me to wear while practising ballet? A jacket and a pair of jeans?” Usually if it’s some random netizen passing a comment, she’ll let it slide. However, when a media mislabelled a ballet outfit and called it “sexual”, Cathryn felt the need to tell them out since this could potentially send the wrong message to the public.
The 32-year-old also shared a screenshot from an article titled, “Why The Correct Dance Attire Is Important”. It explains that just like any other sport, it’s imperative to wear a suitable and comfortable outfit. Since dance involves a lot of movement, “a simple, properly fitted leotard is usually best with whichever bottoms are appropriate…”
In addition to stirring up drama, Cathryn also accused the publication of “disrespecting the entire ballet industry” for making fun of the dress code. “The wrong dress code may cause injury when you do dance poses. Stop asking ballet dancers why are they dressing up like a whore! Don’t do that to pole dancers too. It’s a humiliation to yourself,” she added.
When someone suggested for her to ignore the negative comments, Cathryn questioned back, “Why do public figures have to (be the bigger person and) endure everything? When their reports are untrue, I’m going to stand up and speak for myself. It’s a basic human right! I’m just listing out facts.”
The ballet dancer also posted an image of a calm looking fox with the caption, “Me trying to summon strength not to lose my cool for dealing with another level of stupid people.”
