Bette Midler calls Melania Trump 'FLOTITS' and Twitter won't stand for it:

[Arkansas Granny]

'Women deserve better than this'

Bette Midler is known to speak freely when it comes to talking politics on Twitter. She has carved out a place for herself on the president’s go-to social media platform as a fierce political heckler, and her latest tweet targeting Melania Trump might be her harshest dig yet.

The actress and singer posted a photo on Wednesday of the now first lady from an infamous British GQ shoot. In this particular image from 2000, Melania Trump is posing over the pilot seats in the cockpit of her husband’s private jet, wearing a futuristic outfit consisting of a barely there transparent chain-link dress and metal headpiece.

Midler’s condescending caption included the hashtag #FLOTITS, commenting on Trump’s mostly exposed breasts, quipping “the dry cleaning bill for upholstery on Air Force One must be insane.”

Commenters are not happy with Midler’s joke, calling her “crass,” “jealous” and “desperate.”

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/bette-midler-calls-melania-trump-flotits-twitter-pissed-women-deserve-better-220628860.html

Picture at link.

The divine Miss M. I love that woman.

[hlthe2b]

1. From Martha Washington to Michelle Obama, I would have agreed this is inappropriate, but

Melania has done nothing to deserve such unquestioned respect--quite the opposite.


Hey, Melania,

[sandensea]

11. Hear, hear.

She is historic, after all.

The first First Lady to have ever engaged in the world's oldest profession.

[Larrybanal]

37. the first naked spread-eagle firstlady

it is hard to gain respect back while you are staring hard into a camera with a gun and heels and nothing else

[George II]

52. Splayed on the wing of a now defunct trump shuttle airplane.

[ChiTownDenny]

92. Those are fake tits.

But it is nice of Melania to show them to all of us.

[Raster]

2. Rock on, Miss M!!!

I wonder how many of the twitter "personalities" are right-wing humpers? I don't forget that Mamilia tRump* had her own birther schtick.

[EffieBlack]

3. I'm sorry - but when you pose for pictures with your girls splayed for the world, you lose any claim

to being offended because someone mentions them

[yonder]

9. Agree.

[angrychair]

23. By no means am I defending trump

But I do take exception to your statement in a bigger picture context.

Being a prostitute or a porn actor does not mean you can’t say no to sex.

Taking naked pictures of yourself does not mean you give up your right to modesty or self respect. Or control over your body and to control when and how people see it.

I do not like Trump on many levels but that she used to pose nude has absolutely nothing to do with it.

(On the other side I do take exception when republicans act like hypocrites and pass judgement on people like Ms. Daniels given they do not display the same standards towards trump)

[Siwsan]

33. The photos of Melania, I've seen, were taken for publication - not for her private use

So she loses her right to privacy and anonymity. If she didn't anticipate these photos resurfacing, no matter what course her life might take, then she's a fool.

I'm sure there have been all sorts of reactions to the photos - from thinking they are sublime, to thinking they are ridiculous. It's like most 'art' - the beauty and value are in the eye of the beholder.

[angrychair]

61. I understand your point

I just want us to stick to the issues and not venture into body-shaming or slut-shaming. There are a lot of reasons to not like her (soooo many) but her breasts and images of them, should not be one of them. That’s not who we are. (Hypocrisy in that regard is different but then it about the hypocrisy, not about the images themselves)

[Siwsan]

62. With her, I consider it to be more sleaze shaming than slut shaming but I get your point, too

These are the kinds of photos, of her, that I find to be offensive. Let's call this tacky shaming.

[angrychair]

65. Hahahahaha

I’ve never seen these pictures but they are horrid. I think her nudes should be more acceptable than these awful things. The baby picture is especially disturbing.
How could ANY West Virginia coal miner, family of 4, living in a 3 room small home in a poor town, think or feel that someone like trump would in any possible way understand their plight in life???

[Siwsan]

67. You and I are most definitely on the same page, here!

I remember when people were saying that the Obama's using Dijon Mustard in their tuna salad was elitist!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

63. she wants her past to be ignored

As the tv judges say, she opened that door.

Her photos and appearance are inconsequential except as she and Trump supporters exhibit hypocrisy about them. Even before Crybaby Donnie, right wingers did not hesitate to body shame and slut shame others. Trump capitalized on that and pushed it to new extremes for public figures. Now they want everyone to forget their misogyny and cruelty, and treat Melania as if she is their hypocritically professed chaste, submissive epitome of womanhood.

IMO, our whole culture is hypocritical. Men walk around beaches and ball games without a shirt and the worst thing that happens is they get jeered for physique or the team colors painted on them. Let a woman try that, regardless of geometry, and she would be arrested. It's nuts. It's so nuts now that they blur the breasts in paintings and statues in old movies on tv.

They're breasts. Women have them and men are fascinated by them. That's the way it is.

[EffieBlack]

72. Bette didn't ask her to have sex. She commented on her bare coochie being all over the seats

Last edited Sat Nov 17, 2018, 02:16 PM - Edit history (1)

Which we all know because she had someone take her picture and publish it.

Melania can't have it both ways. She put her business out for the world to see. She and her cult can't now cry harrassment because someone commented on it.

This had nothing to do with control over her body. She displayed her body publicly, apparently because she's proud of it and wanted people to see it. Some people like it looking at it and I'm sure she's not offended when they say so - I certainly don't see anyone attacking those who tell her how great her nekkid body looks. Some people, on the other hand, have negative things to say about it. That, too, is their right and it is no way a violation of her modesty or bodily control.

[Scarsdale]

86. Maybe she is offended

because she can not charge for looking at these photos now? After all being a tRump, money is their first priority.

[Blaukraut]

31. Exactly. Plus, the photos were published, not private. n/t

[MadDAsHell]

53. Ah, the old "But look what she was wearing!!" How did I get routed to Freeperville??!!

So glad to see this crap on DU.

[mr_lebowski]

55. Oh, brother ... nobody's implying there's now an excuse to rape her because of the pics ...

Just that if you KNOWINGLY have pics taken FOR A PUBLICATION, you give up your right to complain just because people mention that fact LATER.

It was YOUR choice, so deal with it ... I believe is Effie's point

And I agree.

[EffieBlack]

82. Oh, bullshit

No one is defending a physical assault on her based on what she was wearing. But you seem to think no one can ever criticize anything a woman choises to wear or not wear. That view takes paternalism to another level.

If she modeled red shoes in a national publication for the purpose of showing off those shoes, you'd better bet she can expect to have people comment on her shoes. By the same token, if she modeled her naked body in a national publication for the purpose of showing off that body, it's ridiculous to expect no one to comment on her naked body. And suggesting that commenting on her body - or the fact that she chose to parade it in people's faces is somehow akin to rape culture is absolutely ridiculous.

Women don't want to be assaulted, regardless the choices we make about what to do with our bodies in public or private. But women are not such snowflakes that we have to be protected from criticism about what we choose to do with our bodies when we do it in public.

[LanternWaste]

93. Not really surprising you'd inaccurately infer as much...

Self-righteous rage often requires the point to missed, the context ignored and brand new suppositions to be created... all in order to pretend people have said something they didn't.

Freeperville, indeed.

[saidsimplesimon]

4. They are so jealous.

Bette is a comedian who can write her own material.

[Tipperary]

5. Lol. Go Bette.

This is the kind of thing that gets under rumpie’s skin.

[MicaelS]

6. Well, that answers the question...

Of whether she had them done.

[TheBlackAdder]

7. Bette is getting in the way of the Republican coronation of Saint Donny & Saint Melania.

[Raster]

8. And twattler just won't stand for it, I tell you...

...good thing she was laying down... which, coincidentally is the exact same position she was in when she met Cheetolini: laying down.

[Initech]

10. Trump trolls can dish it out, but they sure can't take it!

What a bunch of whiny snowflakes!

[LakeArenal]

12. Yea... Shame Bette...

You should grab the tits, not talk about them. Sheesh.

[TexasBushwhacker]

13. Where were they when RWingers were calling Michelle Obama a man?

Shaming her for wearing a sleeveless dress?

Calling her "an ape in heals"?

[IcyPeas]

29. they still call her a dude and call her Michael.....

and since she mentioned having IVF treatment in her new book they are saying this more and more, implying she was born male so of course couldn't have children.

[Cerulean Southpaw]

71. that's funny.

I would want to ask them "how does IVF work with male insides?" but think its better not to listen to whatever ignorance they would think is the answer

[maddiemom]

91. Limbaugh's "MOOchelle" was pretty low. (Not as low as his going after Chelsea when she was a child).

[smirkymonkey]

54. Yes, that is what I would like to know.

I'm sorry, but this is nothing compared to the way they treated Michelle and the Obama family. Suck it up Trumpers! It's your turn now.

[calimary]

76. Good point.

[GWC58]

96. Where were they, you ask?

They were too busy showing “FAKE rage” at Michelle’s sleeveless attire. 😡 Michelle Obama has so much more class than this, this 1stladee. Mrs. Obama truly is a First Lady. Melanoma? Not so much!! 👺👎🏻 Actually NOT AT ALL!

[RhodeIslandOne]

14. Such nonsense

Melania Trump threw all her dignity out the window when she revealed herself to be a racist birther.

[iluvtennis]

15. I stand with Bette. F Melania who is a cretin just like Don the Con.

[Ilsa]

16. I know Rachel Maddow probably would not

permit this on her show, but I think it is funny as hell.

Sorry, but I don't respect Malignia. She's spoiled and indifferent, and probably as narcissistic as IQ45.

[PeeJ52]

17. Now, now... remember

We're supposed to go high... it's just in Bette's case, she's not allowed to go that high om Melania...

[VOX]

18. Midler is "crass," "jealous" and "desperate"? That's 45's exclusive territory!

Sorry, Republican Trumpists, but your Neanderthal figurehead has completely cornered the market on crassness, jealousy and desperation.

[SunSeeker]

34. Exactly. nt

[workinclasszero]

19. Dear FLOTUS: I don't really care, do you?

Womp, womp!

[ProudLib72]

20. #chandeliertits

What the hell is on her head?

Mel deserves massive amounts of opprobrium!

[malaise]

21. Go Bette

It's her photo - she can't reinvent herself.

[Owl]

39. Exactly!

[malaise]

46. I was finished with that illegal after she called for Obama's birth certificate

She has some nerve. That will never be forgiven.

[workinclasszero]

66. +1000

[Different Drummer]

22. Melanoma deserves every bit of The Divine Miss M's derision. n/t

[sdfernando]

24. I seriously doubt The Devine Ms. M is jealous of melanie

Bette was a star long before that Slovenian was ever known....and Bette certainly wouldn't be jealous of melanie's endowment...I mean look at Bette!

[DRoseDARs]

25. From the looks of that Yahoo article, the author trolled Twitter comments.

Yeah, I'm gonna pass on the poutrage from randos on Twitter.

[John Fante]

26. Bette Midler fashioned a steller career on the strength of her

exceptional all-around talent. Trophy case? Bette needs multiple rooms to display the countless awards and platinum records she's collected over the years. She's a legend's legend.

LMAO @ thinking she'd be jealous of a no-talent airhead like Melania. I don't fucking think so.

[SunSeeker]

27. What a bunch of snowflakes.

[Caliman73]

28. Okay, a few prefaces so that you can decide to read or not...

1. I am a man, so my views on sexism and denigration of women are obviously biased and come from a place of privilege.
2. I definitely think that body shaming is a tactic that is fraught with problems, especially when dealing with women because of the history and current problems facing women.
3. I do believe that as Liberals/Progressives (whatever other forward looking label we attach to ourselves) that we should try to, "go high" as our esteemed Michelle Obama has put it.

That said, it's Bette Middler. The awesome, outrageous, funny, rule breaking comedic actor who has always pushed boundaries. She'd likely agree with at least the "crass" comment. The argument that Liberals are "intolerant" is just plain stupid. We are human and as such, when we are angry we lash out in ways that are not the most respectful and productive ways, but as opposed to Republicans, when we lash out in the way the Bette did in her tweet, it isn't to demean an entire group of vulnerable people. It is usually nuanced and highly specific to a certain person or traits which we do not like.

Look, Melania had a modeling career before and during when she met and had the affair with Trump which facilitated the end of his second marriage. She used her body to make money, which is her right and which should not denigrate her. In my opinion, the modeling doesn't denigrate her at all. Her disgusting attitude towards others and her putting support of her disgusting husband are what denigrate her. Her willing support of racist birther conspiracies denigrate her. The way that she tries to put herself above the "bullying" and "meanness" of things at the exact same time that her husband engages in it. Those are the things that denigrate her. Anyone can her photos don't make her trashy, her attitude does. Stormy Daniels, though she has slung mud with Trump during her situation, has shown more class and sophistication than the person who is supposed to be the First Lady of the United States.

The right wing will do what they always do. They cry foul, they decry the lack of civility. They say that the left is intolerant or that we should be "better than that". My only hope is that Middler does not apologize for her comments. I personally see nothing inherently sexist or wrong with it. She wasn't attacking women. She was attacking one highly narcissistic woman and her equally disgusting husband.

[SunSeeker]

38. Midler was not body shaming Melania, but the replies to her tweet are certainly body shaming Bette

Last edited Fri Nov 16, 2018, 08:02 PM - Edit history (2)

The replies on twitter include paparazzi pics of an aging Bette in an unflattering bathing suit, suggesting Bette is mocking Melania for her beauty and Bette is an ugly, jealous, bitter old woman. This is much like what Trump did in comparing Mrs. Ted Cruz to Melania. Bette was not saying Melania's breasts are ugly. Bette was mocking the cheesy, titillating soft porn spreads Melania did that landed her as a Trump mistress while Donald was still married to Mrs. Trump #2.

If Melania claims those spreads are her "art," then we have a right to comment on its quality, or lack thereof. And we are allowed to be funny about it. Now the grifting, classless birther wants to come off as some sort of chaste, high class philanthropist. We will not swallow that shit. Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.

[Caliman73]

45. I completely agree.

Right wing people have a stunning lack of ability to think in anything other than binary.


Plus, they don't really care about women, women's rights or empowerment. They only care about appearing to score points against the opposition.

Bette Middler is a treasure!

[pdsimdars]

30. I mean, talk about double standard . . . .

Isn't the President proud of his wife's "career"? Isn't she proud of her work?
And after they went after Michelle Obama for going sleeveless.

GIVE US A BREAK ! ! ! !

[lindysalsagal]

59. 45 only dates porn stars and beauty queens.

Regular women, who don"t use their looks for their livelihoods, don't interest him.

He only craves women that other men covet.

[cstanleytech]

32. Proof that while the Repugnants love to dish it out they cannot take it when

they are on the receiving end.

[lunasun]

35. Wait the article said the photos were taken on Trump's plane?? She was still doing that

kind of work while with him? Seems weird . He must be freaky he wants everybody to see that (I'm not talking about the inside of his plane)

[SunSeeker]

57. Yup. She did a LOT of shots on Trump's plane. Very weird.

[lunasun]

69. I never put together it was Trump's plane . I assumed those pics were from her working days

before she met Trump . Yeah that's kinda freaky to publish and have out there as a couple

Hey let's add a gun that's sexy

[SunSeeker]

70. It's ART!

[justgamma]

90. She worked for

Trump's modeling agency.

Trump Model Management

[betsuni]

73. She's wearing sunglasses because she can't smize.

You have to project something, anything, on stage or in photographs, a stage presence, a personality. Anyone who has seen "America's Next Top Model" knows about smizing. But Malaria was always Holly Golightly, not a real model.

[SunSeeker]

87. She can't do anything with her eyes, she's had them stretched so tight.

[Calista241]

78. Those boots look a little weird, but i dig the sunglasses.

[Pacifist Patriot]

36. People forget she is an actress, singer, AND comedienne.

Sparky and spunky when it comes to political barbs.

I'm as feminist as it gets and see nothing wrong with the quip.

[Me.]

40. She's A Birther

Not exactly first lady behavior and that birther business caused a superb First Lady endless concern for her family

[NurseJackie]

41. Bette Midler is divine!!

#FLOTITS



I love her so much!

[Marthe48]

42. Here's a question I've never asked about any 1st lady

anyone want to see a picture of m.t. naked?

I just noticed if you use her initials, sounds like empty.

[dflprincess]

43. I have no problem with it

and I just went out & liked the Tweet.

[marble falls]

44. Sure its crass. But its also very funny. If you don't want to hear this kind of stuff ...

don't pose nekkid on your crass husband's crass but leased jet.

[kskiska]

47. Aren't right-wingers the ones at war with "political correctness"?

A dose of their own medicine.

[The Liberal Lion]

48. I personally have no problem with Mrs. trump's former "model" life.

The human body is in no way something to be ashamed about nor is it anything to be "puritanical" about. Being a person who has lived in multiple foreign countries I think the American duality of Puritan "values" yet sexual obsession to be one great tragedy of our country. That being said Mrs. trump deserves ZERO respect due to the man she decided to perform nuptials with. That she see's nothing morally wrong with her husband's behavior and that she decides to stand with him should make her a target of derision, not because she modeled nude at some point in her life.

[zentrum]

49. Love you Bette. Let them...

...rant.

[debsy]

50. The people complaining are the snowflakes with an (R) next to their names.

Period. End of story.

[Vogon_Glory]

51. I'm Trying To Imagine Either Laura Bush or Betty Ford Posing Like That

and I can’t do it. Those First Ladies, Like Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, had too much class.

Sorry, Melania, you’ll have to grin and bear it.

[3catwoman3]

84. Grin and bear it...

...after grimacing and baring it.

She typically has such a sourpuss facial expression or no expression at all.

[UniteFightBack]

56. Witless Flotits. nt

[MiniMe]

58. Because this pic of her is "Class" or should I say Crass

Link to tweet

/photo/1

[ProudLib72]

88. See, #chandeliertits

Or maybe they are dog tags?

[LibDemAlways]

89. Bette Midler is merely exercising her

1st Amendment right to comment on a photo she obviously finds humor in. Melania Trump in her modeling days willingly posed for the photo and was paid to do it. I fail to see what all the fuss is about.

[MaryMagdaline]

60. Get back to me when she calls her a gorilla or a man

[mnhtnbb]

64. Bette's joke is spot on.

The Slovenian Slut, oh, sorry, The First Floozy, isn't proud of her professional life before selling herself to the orange one in marriage? I don't understand. Her husband can lie about anything and anyone, call people all kinds of nasty names, but no one can make fun of Melania's life before she married Spanky $hithole?

Cry me a river, Mel.

[Sunlei]

68. BETTE MIDLER & CHER - Trashy Ladies Medley (1975)

BETTE MIDLER & CHER - Trashy Ladies Medley (1975)

Link to tweet

[peekaloo]

74. Was she wearing her "Jet Dress"?

What's a jet dress, you ask.

A dress so short that when she bends over you can see straight into the cockpit.

[pwb]

75. She is really the Third lady.

Another first for our country.

[Loki Liesmith]

77. Twitter is a mass of spring-loaded outrage.

[Funtatlaguy]

79. Remember when Repubs were outraged that Michelle showed bare arms.

But Repub titties are just fine. Hypocrites

[CentralMass]

95. Fake tits ?

[samnsara]

80. #BeBreast

[Arkansas Granny]

81. Lolol. Perfect reply.

[In It to Win It]

83. Lmao! Beat me to it

[leftyladyfrommo]

85. Bette has always been trashy.

That was her schtick back when she did stand up.

One time her boob fell out of her dress. Didn't even phase her.

I love her. She is just hilarious. And usually spot on.

[mn9driver]

94. This was the work she did to get the EB-1 "Einstein" visa.

I’m not sure why Trump fans are upset. Isn’t this proof of her superior and exceptional abilities that led to being one of only 5 Slovenians to be awarded the EB-1 the following year?