Emily Ratajkowski addresses critics who trolled her for not wearing a bra at Kavanaugh protest

'My outfit seemed completely normal to me'

(EPA)

Emily Ratajkowski has hit back at critics who mocked her for not wearing a bra when she attended a protest last month against the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, who had been accused of sexual assault by Dr Christine Blasey Ford.

The model walked among protesters with the actor Amy Schumer while holding a placard with the words: “Respect female existence or expect our resistance” emblazoned across it.

Despite being there to make an important statement about Kavanaugh’s appointment, some fans remained fixated on what Ratajkowski was wearing and argued that her outfit - a white vest top and jeans - detracted from her political motivations.

Speaking to the Australian magazine Stellar, the 27-year-old said she was very surprised by the attention she received at the time.

“I knew being there would be important and I knew some people would find it controversial, but I never expected anyone to talk about why I wasn’t wearing a bra under my tank top.

“It was 32 degrees, I was marching through D.C. in jeans; my outfit seemed completely normal to me. And I was there making a political point. Why would people focus on what I was wearing?”

Both Ratajokowsi and Schumer were detained for participating in the protest, which took place at a US Senate building in Washington DC.

In a video shared on Twitter, police can be seen walking up to the two women and asking if they’d like to be arrested, to which Schumer responds “yes”. They both sat on the floor with other protestors until they were escorted out of the building.

Schumer pictured at the protest in October

Afterwards, when vitriol towards Ratajkowski emerged, Schumer defended her friend in a powerful Instagram post, arguing that the criticisms she had received were misguided and sexist.

“People are trolling @emrata for not wearing a bra while she got arrested. Well for starters I wasn’t wearing a bra either,” the comedian wrote in a caption underneath a selfie of her and her dog.

“In the ‘what to wear when being detained for four hours on an 87 degree day after a two hour march’ handbook. Bras aren’t recommended.

“Emily sacrificed herself fighting to protect women’s rights to choose what they do with their own bodies.

“How about we show her the same courtesy and direct some of that toxic energy to the people who deserve it?”