Jess Wright Podcast Faces Backlash Over Thong Bikini Comments
The Jess Wright podcast has sparked controversy after comments made about thong bikinis led to public apologies from the hosts. Jess Wright, along with her mother Carol Wright and sister Natalya Wright, faced criticism for remarks deemed “degrading and disrespectful” by social media users.
During a recent episode of the podcast, Jess revealed that her husband, Will Kemp, “hates” thong bikinis and finds them unattractive. Carol echoed this sentiment, stating that her husband, Mark Wright Sr., finds such swimwear “unsexy.” These comments quickly drew backlash, prompting Jess to issue a public apology.
In her apology, Jess stated, “In response to comments we made on our podcast. We’ve listened, we hear you and we want to say sorry.” She acknowledged that their judgment was wrong and emphasized their commitment to doing better moving forward.
The podcast episode, which launched in November 2025, has since been criticized for its perceived hypocrisy, especially given Jess’s own history with thong bikinis during her time on The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) from 2010 to 2016. Critics pointed out that her past use of such swimwear contradicts her recent comments.
Social media influencer Dani Imbert responded to the controversy by posting a TikTok video wearing a thong bikini, further fueling the discussion. The clip discussing thong bikinis from the podcast was deleted from Instagram but has circulated widely on TikTok.
Will Kemp’s remarks on the matter included, “I cannot understand how she thinks that’s attractive. Put it away and leave something to the imagination. Who wants to see up their butts?” This comment added to the public discourse surrounding the topic.
Jess Wright, aged 40, rose to fame on TOWIE and married Will Kemp in 2021. They welcomed their son, Presley, in 2022. Carol Wright, 65, and Natalya Wright, 25, are also notable figures in the entertainment industry, with Carol being married to Mark Wright Sr., who tied the knot with actress Michelle Keegan in 2015.
As the fallout from the podcast continues, observers are keen to see how the Wright family will navigate the backlash and whether further discussions on body positivity and acceptance will emerge from this incident. Details remain unconfirmed.