Jess Wright has been branded a ‘hypocrite’ by social media users after bashing thong bikinis – despite having worn the revealing swimwear herself on numerous occasions.
The former TOWIE star, 40, came under fire after discussing the clothing with her mother Carol, 65, and sister Natalya, 25, on their podcast, during which Jess told women to ‘put it away’.
Sharing her husband William Kemp’s views on the trend, Jess said: ‘Will cannot stand it. He says to me “I cannot understand how she thinks that’s attractive”. Put it away and leave something to the imagination. Who wants to see up their butts?’
Carol also weighed in on the debate, revealing that her 69-year-old husband Mark Wright Sr. had told her he finds the look ‘unsexy’ after spotting holidaymakers wearing thong bikinis.
Following the release of the podcast episode, titled ‘Should thongs be allowed at the beach?’, the comments faced mass backlash, with many saying what they said was ‘degrading’ about women.
The comments also raised eyebrows among fans as Jess herself has previously worn the style multiple times over the years.
Jess Wright has been branded a ‘hypocrite’ by social media users after bashing thong bikinis – despite having worn the revealing swimwear herself on numerous occasions (pictured in 2024)
The former TOWIE star, 40, came under fire after discussing the clothing with her mother Carol, 65, and sister Natalya, 25, on their podcast, during which Jess told women to ‘put it away’
Jess (left) and Natalya are pictured in 2024 in thong style bikinis
She also once owned an underwear shop, With Love Jessica. The Loughton High Road-based store opened in October 2011 before closing down in 2014.
Following the upload, social media users resurfaced throwback images of the reality star wearing barely-there bikinis, many of which showed much of her bottom due to the cut of the swimwear.
Those accusing her of hypocrisy wrote: Did no one see Jess on Towie? She was always in this sort of bikini when it was pool parties etc xxx…
Another added: ‘Literally. pot kettle black and all that xx… one rule for everyone else and their own rules for them, double standards at its finest lol’.
Jess last shared a photo of herself in a thong bikini during a family holiday in 2024.
Shortly before that, she and Natalya posed in barely-there two-pieces while holidaying in Abu Dhabi.
She also posed in a white thong bikini during her pregnancy in 2021.
Earlier that same year, she was seen walking through an airport in a fringed skirt with minuscule bottoms worn underneath on her way to her hen do.
During a trip to Portugal, she showed off her figure in a white thong two-piece while relaxing on a yacht.
In 2020, she donned another barely-there set while posing in the sea during a holiday in Dubai, and the year before she displayed her figure in a black version.
Meanwhile, Natalya is also no stranger to wearing a thong bikini, with her Instagram filled with snaps of her in barely-there pieces.
The comments also raised eyebrows among fans as Jess herself has previously worn the style multiple times over the years (Jess pictured in 2020)
Following the upload, social media users resurfaced throwback images of the reality star wearing barely-there bikinis, many of which showed much of her bottom due to the cut of the swimwear
The reality star also pictured in a thong bikini that year
Jess with her sister in thong one-pieces
She showed off her curves in the racy swimwear
In 2024, she uploaded a clip of her in a black two-piece
She also posed in a white thong bikini during her pregnancy in 2021
Another snap of her in a thong bikini while on holiday
She wore a thing to the airport for her hen do
Jess in a white thong bikini during her hen do
Jess pictured on the beach in another thong bikini bottom
In 2019, she displayed her figure in a black version
Meanwhile, Natalya is also no stranger to wearing a thong bikini, with her Instagram filled with snaps of her in barely-there pieces
On Tuesday, Jess issued a heartfelt apology for the comments made about women wearing thong bikinis on her Wright At Home podcast.
Despite deleting the clip from the podcast Instagram page, the clip was shared across TikTok with mass backlash against the discussion.
Jess’ subsequent apology on Tuesday afternoon, which was also shared on Carol and Natalya’s accounts, read: ‘In response to comments we made on our podcast. We’ve listened, we hear you and we want to say sorry…
‘Our judgement was wrong and we take full accountability and will do better moving forward. Love Jess, Natalya and Carol’.
Jess and Carol joined Natalya in discussing the swimwear – where Jess ordered women to ‘put it away’.
Social media erupted with reaction to the clip, with many defiantly posting bikini pictures and stating: ‘Jess, I do not dress for your husband’, while others posted throwback images of Jess wearing thong bikinis over the years.
Jess, Natalya and Carol launched Wright At Home in November last year and while the show has gained mild traction since its launch, the bikini discussion has stormed TikTok – despite the minds behind the Instagram page removing the clip.
The discussion started with Jess stating: ‘I can’t stand how it’s acceptable to walk around on the beach in a thong’, to which Natalya said: ‘Do you know what’s worse, these girls who do wear them, fair enough if you’re gonna wear them, at least if you’re gonna bend over and put your towel over your bed, put a sarong on!’
Carol joined the conversation: ‘I really do think this is not sexy for men to look at’.
Jess then gave the insight of her husband’s feelings, saying: ‘Will cannot stand it. He says to me: “I cannot understand how she thinks that’s attractive”. Put it away and leave something to the imagination. Who wants to see up their butts’
Carol urged: ‘Leave something to the imagination! It’s not sexy’, while Jess added: ‘Please girls, wear bigger coverage bikini bottoms.’
The family matriarch then regaled a story from a holiday with her husband, who she revealed weighed in on the look of three women with varied figures.
She said: ‘Me and daddy was walking along the promenade and there were three girls in front of us and they were all different shapes and sizes but they had their whole arses out and daddy was looking and he said: “It doesn’t even look sexy”‘.
On Tuesday, Jess issued a heartfelt apology for the comments made about women wearing thong bikinis on her Wright At Home podcast
Upset arose at the prospect of women failing to support other women, with one TikTok user declaring they are not concerned with Will’s opinion.
They wrote: ‘Its disgusting women still have to deal with other women tearing them down for their clothing choices…
‘Jess hunny, I do NOT dress for your husband and I certainly dont want him imagining me naked. That is not why the baddies wear thong bikini’s’.
One video showed a pair of girls standing at the front of a boat with words over the top reading: ‘Oh better change my whole summer wardrobe because Jess Wright’s husband and Dad think it’s unacceptable and unattractive xxx’.
