NBC Host Calls Leather Clad Bikers "Losers"
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(see her retraction at the end of this story)
NBC’s Hoda Kotb pissed off a lot of leather-wearing motorcycle riding enthusiasts with an offhand comment about the time she and Kathie Lee Gifford went to a biker bar, called Alabama Jacks in 2013. “We dressed in leather, like a couple of losers really, like at the biker bar,” Kotb said. Alabama Jacks is located in Key Largo Florida and is a frequent hangout of locals and motorcycle riders.
Bikers took their anger to the Facebook page for the show writing, “Saw the comments made about dressing up like losers in leather and going to Alabama Jacks. You just lost a loser in leather for rating ladies…have fun in your plastic, fake Barbie world!” Another wrote, "I am seriously offended at Hoda's reference to dressing in leather and going to a biker bar as "dressing as losers". Obviously, she needs to get her head out of her dressing room and look at the facts. We are lawyers, doctors, secretaries, mechanics, military, police, college graduates, mothers, and fathers."
140 comments
Of course…these are two people who dress in tennis gear to watch a tennis match or golf attire watch a golf tournament.
Biker chicks are “losers”? I’m an acute care nurse practitioner with 3 master’s degrees and I ride a 2005 Harley Davidson Sportster XL1200. I’m trying to understand why my biking sisters and I would be considered losers by the two of them on national TV. Can’t they go and enjoy their “vacation” without offending and disrespecting women who chose to be free spirited enough to ride motorcycles?
What does she mean? She dresses in leather all day, everyday. Just look at her skin.
I don’t think she has any idea how HUGE the biker community is! She will now! She not only hurt own ratings…but those of her co-host and NBC! Would she call people that can’t afford nice clothes losers too? I imagine that someone in her position thinks that anyone that doesn’t “fit” in her crowd is a loser. Sad, Sad, Sad. You blew it lady!
I am appalled at Hoda’s comment. She needs to do major research (or have her people do it for her) before opening her mouth on issues she of which she has little or no knowledge. Those “losers” who wear leather are the first ones to give their time, provide assistance, and raise money for those in need. We all do not wear colors or are affiliated with motor cycle clubs. We are professionals, including lawyers, doctors, secretaries, mechanics, active and ex-military, police. Many of us are college graduates and mothers and fathers, with families who are proud of what we do and stand for. We wear leather to protect ourselves from the elements and from those driving in vehicles on the phone, texting, and generally not paying attention to things around them.
As an example of we “losers” do – one of the biggest non-profit organizations is “Bikers Against Child Abuse International” where those “losers in leather” empower abused children to stand up against their abusers and help them regain their self-confidence and feel safe again.
Shame on Hoda and shame on NBC for not putting a filter on both her and Kathy Lee…their ignorance speaks volumes!