Savannah Guthrie has defended her hairstyle to a viewer who claimed her casual waves were too ‘unkempt’ and ‘distracting’ for the news.
After receiving a negative tweet about her on-air look, the Today anchor, 48, pointed out that she and her co-stars have been forced to do their own hair and makeup amid the coronavirus pandemic.
‘@SavannahGuthrie Cmon. With what they pay you, can’t you afford a hair stylist? I love the natural unkempt look but it’s distracting on @NBCNews national news,’ the person commented on Tuesday morning.
Say what? Savannah Guthrie, 48, was criticized on Tuesday by a viewer who called her on-air hairstyle ‘unkempt’ and ‘distracting’
Questions: ‘With what they pay you, can’t you afford a hair stylist?’ the woman asked
Reminder: Savannah pointed out that she and her co-stars have been forced to do their own hair and makeup amid the coronavirus pandemic
The journalist was nothing but gracious when she responded to the woman’s backhanded compliment, writing: ‘We are all doing our own hair and makeup during the pandemic. And yes it shows!’
While filming the show at her home in upstate New York, Savannah has been styling — and even dying — her own hair. She’s also been experimenting with accessories, including playful barrettes and headbands.
Fans were quick to come to Savannah’s defense, with some pointing it was a sexist critique that a man would never have to deal with.
‘How many male anchors have you contacted to ask about their hair? Just curious,’ one person asked the critic in question.
Response: Fans were quick to come to Savannah’s defense and the critic later apologized
‘You’re a role model to so many of us with or without your hair and makeup team. Thank you for your hard work. Enjoyed the newscast tonight,’ someone else added.
The critic later apologized for her comment, though she made it clear she still wasn’t a fan of Savannah’s hair as of late.
‘I didn’t mean to be mean. I worked in television for 32 years. I was just surprised that the makeup artists would let the hair slide on national TV for two days,’ she wrote. ‘You do look great. It’s the hair that needs a little love. We love you in Puerto Rico!’
She added the hashtag ‘#mujeresalpoder,’ which is Spanish for ‘women in power.’
Big reunion: Savannah had her highlighted brown hair in a headband when she met up with her co-star Al Roker, 65, in Hudson Valley, New York, live on the Today show on Tuesday
Happy: It was the first time the co-stars had seen each other in months, and they both took to Instagram to share photos of their reunion
Savannah had her highlighted brown hair in a headband when she met up with her co-star Al Roker, 65, in Hudson Valley, New York, live on the Today show on Tuesday.
It was the first time they had seen each other in months, and they both took to Instagram to share photos of their reunion.
‘Ahhhh. #reunitedanditfeelssogood So good seeing @savannahguthrie in person here on @todayshow live from #hudsonny,’ Al wrote, while she noted that seeing him was the best part of her morning.
Savannah opened up to People about having to do her own glam in April, explaining that she knows how to do it because of the lower-profile broadcast news jobs she had early on in her career.
Accessories: While filming the show at her home in upstate New York, Savannah has been styling her own hair and experimenting with barrettes and headbands
Last resort: Savannah dyed her gray roots at home in May with the help of celebrity hairstylist Rita Hazan
However, she joked that she is ‘a little stuck in the 80s and 90s’ when it comes to modern hairstyles and makeup trends.
‘I just pour it on and hope for the best and I’m not that good at doing my hair and makeup,’ she added. ‘But I’m just trying to do the best I can.’
In May, the anchor revealed that she dyed her gray roots at home with the help of celebrity hairstylist Rita Hazan — who walked her through the process on FaceTime.
Although she didn’t provide an ‘after’ photo, her gray roots were gone the next time she appeared on the Today show.