Monika Radulovic not affected by Hamish McLachlan bear hug, incident compared to Chris Gayle-Mel McLaughlin controversy

Days after Chris Gayle controversy, Channel Seven sports presenter Hamish McLachlan is in the midst of intense criticism for bear-hugging Miss Australia 2015 Monika Radulovic. The incident happened during a live “Weekend Sunrise” broadcast on Saturday when the model was filling-in as Seven’s weather reporter. Radulovic was also Australia’s best chance to bring home the Miss Universe 2015 title.

During the awkward moment, McLachlan even mentioned West Indies power-hitter Chris Gayle saying “I’m not Chris Gayle,” clearly drawing reference to the cricketer’s attempt to ask Australia’s Network Ten sports presenter Mel McLaughlin out during a live cricket match broadcast.

Now, the beauty queen is back in Sydney and all smiles and seems not affected at all by the hug incident. According to The Daily Telegraph, even if the 25-year-old beauty was affected by the whole incident, it was not visible on Radulovic’s face when she arrived in Sydney Airport in casual style. In fact, Radulovic has come to the defence of McLachlan when social media is leaving no stone unturned in criticising the sports presenter for his on-air embrace at the Gold Coast’s Magic Millions carnival.

“If I’ve offended anyone at home I’m apologising for that absolutely but more importantly I'm apologising to you. I was trying to have fun. Have I offended you?” McLachlan apologised back in the studio, less than an hour of the incident taking place.

Radulovic showed her support saying that she did not even think twice about it.

“Not at all. I did not think twice about it,” said Radulovic on being asked by McLachlan.

However, The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) feels that the incident has sparked a sexism debate. It has taken examples of Jamie Briggs Hong King bar incident, Peter Dutton Samantha Maiden incident and the Chris Gayle Mel McLaughlin incident and now the McLachlan hug incident, all of them happening within just 12 days. SMH writes that these four incidents in 12 days “are public markers of the pervasive male attitude that remains, often subliminally, towards women.”