At a Glance
- Hilaria Baldwin defended her family’s snow-day haircuts after a tabloid posted a negative story.
- She highlighted double standards in coverage of women versus men during the same snowstorm.
- The family’s appointments were pre-booked and the salon was two blocks from their home.
**Why it matters: The incident sparked a broader conversation about media bias and parental expectations during inclement weather.
Hilaria Baldwin explained on Instagram that the criticism of her family’s snow-day activities was unfounded. The mother of seven said the appointments were scheduled more than a week before the storm hit New York City on January 25, 2024. She emphasized that the salon was only two blocks from their residence, making the trip practical even in heavy snow.
Snowstorm Weekend
The city’s snowfall on January 25, 2024 was the lightest in recent memory, but the public still braved the conditions. Baldwin’s family, according to her post, walked through the snow to visit a bookstore and then to a nearby salon. She described the journey as “bundling up” and “a little bit cold,” noting that the weather was the only obstacle.
The family’s schedule was simple:
- Bookstore visit – 7 blocks from home
- Haircuts – 2 blocks from home
Both locations were open, and the appointments had been confirmed well in advance. Baldwin added that the children enjoyed the experience and that the salon visit was a “great time” for the family.
The Instagram Response
On January 26, 2024, Baldwin posted a video to address the backlash. She began with a sarcastic remark about a tabloid’s “different rules” for mothers versus men. She said, ‘Hey, it’s Hilaria Baldwin. Do you know that if you’re a mother in a snowstorm, you have to live by different rules than a man in the same snowstorm, according to a certain tabloid? I know. Shocking.’
She then outlined what she saw in the city: people cross-country skiing, building snowmen, sledding in Central Park, and “pulling people through tubes on the street and having fun.” She positioned her family as part of that normal activity, highlighting that they were just doing routine errands.
Tabloid Coverage
Baldwin’s post also critiqued the tabloid’s coverage. She mentioned that the outlet had written a positive story about a male public figure, Shaun White, during the same snowstorm. She recalled a post about Shaun playing in the snow with others, calling it “super fun.” She then pointed out that the same tabloid had written a negative story about her family’s haircuts.
She said, ‘It kind of does hurt my feelings because you’re asking women to play the same game by different rules, and you know that because you wrote a positive story about a man and a negative story about a woman – same city, same snowstorm, same day.’ Baldwin framed this as evidence of double standards in media reporting.
Family Activities
The family’s itinerary, as described by Baldwin, included:
- Bookstore – 7 blocks from home, for books and Legos
- Salon – 2 blocks from home, for haircuts
She noted that the children “love getting their haircut” and that they don’t do it often because they’re “so cute.” She expressed gratitude for the positive comments she received about the children’s appearance.
Baldwin also mentioned that she found only one negative comment on her haircut post, indicating that most feedback was supportive.
The Double-Standard Argument
Baldwin’s main point was that the tabloid applied “different rules” to her as a mother versus a male celebrity. She asked, ‘What I’m asking for is like, do I have to stay indoors? Like, what’s this rule where I can’t do the same thing as everybody else? What’s the difference?’ She suggested that media scrutiny can create a “click-bait” narrative questioning a mother’s competence.
Her comments resonated with viewers who felt that parents, especially mothers, are judged more harshly for everyday decisions during weather events. The discussion on social media included debates about the fairness of such coverage.
Public Reaction
The video received mixed reactions. Some viewers praised Baldwin for standing up against media bias, while others criticized her for using the incident for publicity. The tabloid’s response was not covered in the original post, leaving the conversation open-ended.
The incident also highlighted the broader issue of how media outlets choose stories. Baldwin’s experience illustrates how a single event can be framed differently based on the subject’s gender and public profile.
Key Takeaways
- Pre-planned appointments: The family’s haircuts were booked over a week before the snowstorm.
- Same-day coverage disparity: A tabloid highlighted Baldwin’s family negatively while praising a male celebrity positively.
- Media scrutiny: The incident sparked debate about double standards in reporting on women’s parenting choices.
Baldwin’s message was clear: parents should not be judged differently for routine activities during inclement weather. Her family’s experience remains a reminder that media coverage can shape public perception in ways that may not reflect reality.
