Open Post: Hosted By Hooter’s New Even Shorter Short-Shorts
I know Hooters feels like a uniquely American tradition, but did you know that it actually started in France? Yes, it’s true, only there it’s called Ooters and instead of having to wear crop tops and short-shorts like in America, the servers there are given only a small orange béret and they have to decide whether to use it to cover their kibbles or their bits. Not both! So while American Hooters may seem déclassé and tacky, it’s actually a lot more sophisticated here. However, a recent update to the servers’ uniforms brings Hooters dangerously close to the French model where the delicious food takes a backseat to lasciviousness. According to People, the shorts on the new uniform are shorter than ever and it took a Hooters employee’s TikTok video going viral to pull us from the brink of total depravity.
People reports that Hooters recently implemented a new, more revealing mandatory uniform for its servers. But the changes ruffled the feathers of a number of employees who claimed that the new, shorter than ever short-shorts are practically panties (see above). And a few of them #TookToTikTik (you’re not gonna accuse me of not evolving with the times) to express their concern.
Several Hooters employees have voiced their criticisms online about the new, extremely short shorts the company recently implemented — and one woman was able to convince the Hooters CEO to reverse the uniform change.
The Hooters uniforms normally require employees to wear black or orange spandex shorts, a Hooters tank top or T-shirt, pantyhose and white sneakers. The previous Hooters shorts are known for already being revealing, but the new shorts are noticeably tinier.
In her first video about the change, Hooters employee Autumn Illingworth, who posts under the TikTok handle @sick.abt.it, compares the older shorts to the new ones. She holds up the shorts while the text says “all right so we all know why half the hooters girls want to quit.” In the caption, she tagged fellow Hooters employee Kirsten Songer, also known as @theflathootersgirl, who made a similar video. Illingworth’s video has over 14 million views.
In a follow-up video, Autumn donned the shorts to demonstrate and she had to put black tights on under them to avoid violating TikTok’s strict anti-wedgie policy.
@sick.abt.it Reply to @__evie2__ let me just say the pouches serve a great purpose ????
Here’s what the old shorts look like. Don’t get distracted though, their legs are down there (and their eyes are on their nipples).
https://www.instagram.com/p/CTnDK52pd6B/
The irony is that in France, the Ooters girls get full medical benefits and their cooters get to air-dry, but the Hooters girls have to pool their tips to afford an industrial size tub of Monistat 3 that they all have to share. Thankfully, Autumn’s TikTok went viral and the CEO of Hooters himself, Terrance M. Mark (who earns an estimated $700,000/year per Comparably) contacted her personally to let her know he cares about vaginal health as much as the next CEO. She says he “contacted her and rescinded the uniform change.”
In a statement to Business Insider, the company confirmed that the new shorts would be optional. “As we continue to listen and update the image of the Hooters Girls, we are clarifying that they have the option to choose from traditional uniforms or the new ones,” a Hooters America spokesperson said.
So next time you go to Hooters for the free fried pickles, don’t forget to bring your ruler. Measure those exposed butt cheeks, otherwise, you won’t know how much to tip your server!
Pic: Hooters via Instagram