Bridget Maasland is crying through the dust because of the bizarre joke she made in 2014 about Kelly van der Veer. “I just haven’t thought about it. It was a different zeitgeist.”
It is 2007 when Bridget Maasland and Kelly van der Veer enter the exact same blue dress appearing at the Beau Monde Gala. Seven years later, in 2014, Bridget looked back at the desk of her former program Shownieuws. That’s when it was about these kinds of blunders. “I’ve had that too, but a man had it on with me!” she exclaimed.
Kelly in all states
huh? A man was wearing it? Fashion designer Janice, sitting next to Bridget, was startled: “No… Kelly!”
Bridget insists: “Yeah, I had a Karen Millen dress on and Kelly came in with that too! Same color too! Well, I could sink into the ground…”
Kelly, known from Big Brother, was born as a man, but of course she no longer identifies herself as such. She was therefore in all states: “Who does she think she is? I’m really furious. I’m not going to let such a farmer’s trin ruin my happiness. Then I’ll get you. You might do something like that at home, but not on SBS 6. I would have estimated Bridget more intelligently.”
freak show
The strangest thing is that Bridget persisted even after Kelly’s angry reaction. She said to it AD to think that Kelly just wants attention. “Seriously, she was a man, wasn’t she? It’s vicious because everyone knows she used to be a man.” Then seemingly reluctantly: “If I’ve offended her, my sincere apologies.”
In 2023, Bridget would of course never have gotten away with this. And the presenter is so sporty to admit that herself. She makes her appearance in the new documentary about Kelly on the streaming service Prime Video. “It was really a different time. People still thought of a freak show: can I watch?!”, she says.
Bridget emotionally
It was an intense TV moment for Kelly, she looks back in the documentary. “And then again pontifically on TV that everyone is watching. prime time. “A man had it on with me.” Bridget, what the f*ck.”
Bridget made the joke thoughtlessly, she then admits. “Not realizing that that could even be painful or hurt anyone or anything. Just didn’t think about it. The joke takes precedence over the insult.”
Then she gets emotional: “I think it affects me myself, because I also belong to a minority. I am a woman and unfortunately women are still treated very sexist. I myself am a very good example of this. In recent years I have been a good target for both men and women.”
Never too old
Bridget thinks it’s important to admit her mistake, she says Show news. “I’m glad you’re never too old to learn and never too old to realize that you can always apologize for anything if you think: I was wrong back then.”
The RTL Boulevard presenter continues: “Even though it was a different zeitgeist, even though everyone laughed along, even though everyone thought it was normal and good what we did. It wasn’t good and I got caught up in that too and I’m glad I got that insight.”
Show news expert Anouk Smulders: “I think it’s very brave that she does that. You can’t do it either, can you? And bury your head in the sand of: that was then. I think it is right that you are standing there, but it is also good.”
Trailer
The official trailer of the Prime Videodocumentary about Kelly: