Kelly Stafford Questions ‘Harm’ of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show made a splashy return after a 6-year hiatus, but Kelly Stafford is on the fence about whether or not that’s a good thing. 

On the Thursday, October 17 episode of her “The Morning After” podcast, Stafford discussed the idea of watching the fashion show, which returned on Tuesday, October 15, with her daughters. 

“Part of me is, like, it’s no harm if my girls watch it because there’s good music, there’s funky outfits,” Stafford said. “But I’m also like, ‘Is there harm?’”

Stafford and her husband, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, share four daughters: twins Sawyer and Chandler, 7, Hunter, 6 and Tyler, 4.

“Women who are listening to this, you watch the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, you watch the [Sports Illustrated] Swimsuit situation, you’re sitting there going, ‘Ah f—, I gotta diet tomorrow,’” Stafford continued. “That just is what it is.”

Still, Stafford acknowledged that the show has made positive strides when it comes to body positivity. 

“I do think they’ve gotten better about putting models in who aren’t sticks, like Ashley Graham,” she noted. 

Graham, 36, made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut on Tuesday, an indicator of the progress made since the event was canceled in 2019 due to backlash about a lack of diversity and body types, leading to an overhaul of the Victoria’s Secret brand. 

Stafford also gave shoutouts to Cher, who performed her songs “Believe” and “Strong Enough” to close out the show, and models Kate Moss and Tyra Banks, who appeared on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway for the first time in nearly 20 years. 

“It’s entertaining,” Stafford said of the spectacle. “They have these massive wings on that weigh God knows how much trying to walk in 9-inch heels all while looking natural. If you can do that, more power to you.”

In May, Victoria’s Secret announced the runway show would return after a six-year break.

“We’ve read the comments and heard you,” the brand shared via Instagram. “The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is ✨ BACK ✨ and will reflect who we are today, plus everything you know and love—the glamour, runway, wings, musical entertainment, and more! Stay tuned…it only gets more iconic from here. 🪽#VSFashionShow.”

The show also featured appearances from models including Gigi and Bella Hadid, Alessandra Ambrosio, Barbara Palvin, Jasmine Tookes, Behati Prinsloo, Candice Swanepoel and Adriana Lima, who walked the runway six years after announcing her retirement.