I have been so busy balancing work, kids’ schedules and Dave’s recovery, it slipped my mind whether I shared with you a recent email from a viewer who contacted my two newsroom managers and the general manager of the station regarding my hair. It took me ten seconds to find her phone number on the Internet, so I called to field her hair suggestions. She wasn’t home, according the the gentleman who answered. Apparently she didn’t get the message I called because she sent almost the same email to the entire newsroom and my bosses during the weekend. What follows is the text and my reply with her name, town and my number omitted:
Subject: Tara Thomas
Tara Thomas really needs a hair cut the length does not look good on her.
I know others agree with that please see what can be done about this
Thanks,
(Name withheld)
Dear (name withheld),
This is the second time I have heard from you regarding my hair. I tried to call you in (town withheld) to talk with you about your concerns, however the gentleman who answered said you were not home. Feel free to call me at work. My number is 319-XXX-XXXX.
Thanks for the feedback,
Tara
Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 56
This post was written by Tara on February 4, 2013
Tara, DO NOT let this trouble you today. You are beautiful…Ignore all of these negative remarks. Just think of all the viewers who watch KWWL and if only a handful are not happy campers, then you are doing a fantastic job. Keep smiling ;~}}}!!1`
and I’m sitting here watching the evening news and just open your blog!
and I was just thinking how relaxed and beautiful you look tonite (including your hair style!)
Some people really don’t have enough REAL stuff to do if all they seem to do is criticize others. Good grief!
I agree with Chris and Fran!!!
I agree with Fran . There is nothing wrong with your hair style it kook good on you !!!!!
I ment to put your hair style looks good on you !!!!
I think your hair looks great! Everyone is going to have an opinion. And you know what? What REALLY matters is how your hairstyle makes YOU feel. If you like it…keep it that way! Just keep smiling, and know that you are never going to please everyone
I can’t believe people actually take the time to complain to your managers about your HAIR??!! You’re too nice…so I’ll say it for you….get a life, people!!
You have enough on your plate without someone nagging you about your hair. This makes me sick! You always looks so nice, Tara. Please disregard this woman’s comments. Apparently she has too much time on her hands!!!!
If she doesn’t contact you, or you reach her, I’d just ignore it all. She’s probably enjoying knowing that you’re even giving it any amount of attention. (And probably freaked out that you called her!)
Some other ideas however: You could show up at her home with a camera crew, your hair stylist, and say “OK, YOU tell my hair stylist how YOU’D like my hair to be cut, and I’LL tell my stylist how I’D like YOUR hair to be cut, and we’ll get our hair cut TOGETHER!” LOL! Or, you could have a viewer poll/vote/contest to select Tara’s new hair style? Have some good fun with it all?
What I question most of all however – does no one ever comment on Ron’s hair?
I’m thinking exactly along the same lines as John – how come no one complains about the guys’ hair? LOL! Tara – I wish I could wear your hair style. I’ve tried several times to do that style and it just doesn’t work for me. It looks awesome on you – please don’t change it!!!
You are being a lot nicer about it than I would be! I love John’s idea and also wonder why no one comments on the hair styles of the guys? Wow! Tara – don’t change your hair style! I love it! I’ve tried to have that style several times and it just doesn’t work for me. But it looks absolutely adorable on you!
I wish I had more to think about than your hair. Do we watch the news to find out what’s going on in the world or to comment on the anchor’s hair. Do what works for you Tara. We need to teach our children to focus less on looks and more on the person.
Why does it matter so much to people how anyone wears their hair? And maybe some times, life just gets to be too much to do too much to our hair and that’s okay too. Everyone is entitled to a “bad hair day” once in a while although I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with one. I have to admit, I don’t watch a lot of news programs and usually watch another station, mostly because the news/weather on KWWL is not local enough for where I live. However, I have watched it recently a time or too and found nothing wrong with anyone’s attire, makeup or hairstyles. I don’t think the majority of viewers would be as interested in a “latest hairstyles” piece as they would the local news or weather. Keep up the good work and just pray for those who are so critical. I do like your approach at trying to reach this person directly. I also like another person’s response about doing a segment on hairstyles for each other even though it’s not the news of the day!
What a snob! I can’t believe adults actually act like this and go this far over a haircut they simply don’t like!
I would request a picture of this ladies hair so you can post it on your blog and we can vote on which we like best!
Keep your head high girl. Life is WAY more important then what this moron thinks of your hair
Seriously, do people have nothing better to do? You look gorgeous, Tara. Don’t change a thing!
I would love to see you on-air in lounge pants, unwashed hair and a ballcap. Do a segment on bullying in the community, include that even though we are adults, it doesn’t end. Remember the news anchor from Iowa about her weight? Why is okay for people to say things like this?! If it’s your integrity or work ethic they are concerned with, I understand, but your looks are not their concern and e-mailing your station and managers is wrong.
Oh who cares?
Your hair looks terrific and maybe she should THINK about what would happen if you HAD NO HAIR, would she still be so worried about it? Because there’s nothing she could write about then.
Honey, go find a something to really concern yourself over, your wasting precious time, use your energy solving problems you can fix.
Tara, don’t even clutter your mind thinking about this.
And yes, Ron does sometimes have some fly away hairs that could be tamed! I just laugh and think Whoa…bad hair day Ron!
Are you kidding. Apparently some people weren’t taught that if you can’t say anything nice DON’T say anything at all!! The never of people to criticize something as trivial as hair while there is so much more going on in the world.
You look great! I think the lady that is so worried about how your hair looks needs to get a hobby.
Do people really have nothing better to do? You’re gorgeous, Tara. Don’t change a thing!
This sounds like a waste of time on both of your parts. First of all what does it matter what YOU choose to wear your hair like and second, I wouldn’t have even thought of giving her an ounce of time calling her back. Your on for 1.5 hours in a 24 hr. period 5 days a week, generally. If she can’t handle what you have your hair styled like, then there’s always that other option.
what you don’t like about someone else is really what you don’t like about yourself
Tara, I’ve seen you in person and on TV and you are so pretty. How one should wear his or her hair length, style, color, etc. is simply an OPINION. Hopefully this woman will wake up and realize that. Keep on keeping on, Girl!
I can not believe that people say bad things about your hair! If only I could have even part of it that would be great! You always, always look beautiful!
It isn’t very nice to say hurtful things to people. They need to take a look in the mirror at themselves.
How about you ask her to send you a pic of her hair and we can vote on what we like best
Do your bosses really want you to respond to each and every opinion expressed about your looks? If so, do they have the male anchors also respond to the “I don’t like your tie or glasses” comments? Your hair is great. Give it up, you can’t possibly make everyone happy. Stop indulging these attention seekers. They are looking for some sort of power in a really strange way.
It’s the “please see what can be done about this” that’s giving me a hearty laugh tonight. What in the world is she imagining? That someone will hold Tara down and restyle her hair? Dock her paycheck until she reforms? Disciplinary leave? A note in her permanent record?