Emma Willis defends son Ace’s ‘individual’ dress sense: ‘Why would I try to suppress that?’
Presenter was praised for ‘breaking gender stereotypes’ after sharing picture of Ace, eight, in a pink crop top
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Emma Willis has said that she refuses to “suppress” her son Ace’s “individuality”.
In October, the presenter shared a rare photo of her “little style icon” Ace, in which the eight-year-old sported a pink cropped t-shirt, blue baggy jeans and wore his blonde hair long.
While The Voice host was widely praised for “breaking gender stereotypes” in sharing the photo, some critics questioned his choice of clothes.
Speaking to Fabulous, Willis said that negative reactions had left her feeling like the Incredible Hulk and wanting to “scream at the world”.
“I’m so protective of my kids and this was just a young boy expressing himself the way he wants to,” she said. “I thought: ‘Did you not watch Eighties dance movies? All the boys wore crop tops and it was cool!’”
Describing Ace as “very individual”, she continued: “He dresses the way he wants and he’s really happy doing that. Why would I try to suppress that?
“The response was a big eye-opener, because for me, it’s just Ace, he’s my son and that’s the way he’s always been. So it did massively make me start thinking about stereotyping and how bonkers it is that a boy, just because he has long hair and is wearing pink, is mistaken for a girl.”
Willis has previously admitted to finding the response to Ace’s photo “overwhelming”, explaining: “It’s just my son in a pink top. And for me that’s kind of normality.”
The presenter has three children, Isabelle, 11, Ace, eight, and Trixie, four, with Busted musician Matt Willis.