Michelle Wie West has responded to a story told by Rudy Giuliani, calling the former lawyer to Donald Trump and New York City mayor’s remarks “unsettling” and “highly inappropriate.”
Speaking on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast on Thursday, Giuliani recalled a round he played with Wie and the late Rush Limbaugh during a charity fundraiser years ago. Giuliani said there was paparazzi at the golf course and suggested they were there to snap photos of Wie and her putting stance, because she “bends all the way over and her panties show.”
Wie West took to social media to respond.
“What this person should have remembered from that day was the fact that I shot 64 and beat every male golfer in the field leading our team to victory,” the 31-year-old wrote. “I shudder thinking that he was smiling to my face and complimenting me on my game while objectifying me and referencing my ‘panties’ behind my back all day.
“What should be discussed is the elite skill level that women play at, not what we wear or look like.
“My putting stance six years ago was designed to improve my putting stats (I ended up winning the US Open that year), NOT as an invitation to look up my skirt.
“Nike makes skirts with SHORTS build in underneath for this exact reason…so that women can feel CONFIDENT and COMFORTABLE playing a game that we love.”
Wie West has been on maternity leave after her and her husband, Johnny West, welcomed their first child, Makenna Kamalei Yoona West, last June. She has not played in an LPGA event since 2019 as she dealt with injuries before taking time away to focus on her growing family.
Giuliani, 76, was part of the Trump legal team that disputed the results of the 2020 presidential election.