Internet erupts over commentator Peter van Onselen’s unorthodox outfit on an ABC political TV show – as he addresses torrent of cruel taunts dubbing his fashion sense ‘mid life crisis’ chic
- Peter van Onselen wore a hoodie and suit jacket on Insiders
- Critics said the political pundit’s look was too casual
- The hoodie advertised HBO TV series Succession
Television commentator Peter van Onselen has brushed off criticism over his dress sense after he appeared on Insiders wearing a hoodie under a suit jacket.
The political pundit donned a blue hoodie emblazoned with the logo of fictional conglomerate Waystar Royco from the comedy-drama series Succession when he joined the ABC show’s panel on Sunday.
Twitter soon lit up with comments about the unorthodox combination, with many armchair fashion critics dismissing the look as inappropriate – one even describing van Onselen as a ‘fashion victim’.
‘By all means dress casually on a Sunday morning but a suit and a hoodie is just wrong PVO,’ one unimpressed viewer wrote.
‘What’s next? Sitting there in their undies because it’s Sunday morning,’ added another.
Commentator Peter van Onselen has addressed criticism of his dress sense after he appeared on the ABC’s Insiders on Sunday wearing a hoodie under a suit jacket. Van Onselen’s hoodie advertised the fictional media conglomerate Waystar Royco from TV series Succession
And this: ‘Lots of tweets today about PVO wearing a hoodie under his jacket. Fashion critiques aside… Did everyone miss it being a #Succession reference?’
Van Onselen has now acknowledged the refence to the popular HBO series, which is often viewed as an exaggerated version of 92-eyar-old billionaire Rupert Murdoch’s children jockeying for control of News Corp.
‘The latest episode drops on Binge today,’ van Onselen told Daily Mail Australia. ‘I’m looking forward to relaxing on the couch and watching it.
Asked if he would be wearing the hoodie for the occasion, the onetime political adviser said: ‘Nah, it’s in the wash.’
Those comments are unlikely to satisfy the more outraged members of the Twittersphere who bombarded the platform with their thoughts:
‘Really PVO??? A hoodie and a suit jacket? Are you appearing on #insiders or going for a run?’
‘And he calls himself a professional?’
‘Some people can make the hoodie-under-a-jacket look work. Sadly, PVO is not among them.’
A smaller group was more interested in where van Onselen had located his fleecy top: ‘Why is PVO wearing a Succession hoodie on #insiders, but also, where do I get one?’
Van Onselen announced last month he was leaving the Ten Network where he had been political editor for four years as well as a co-host of The Project.
In those positions van Onselen wore a suit and tie when he was camera, as well as his trademark facial stubble.
Twitter users were quick to compare van Onselen’s attire on Insiders with his more businesslike approach to his previous roles.
‘You can’t hold on to your air of superiority when you can’t complete a shave and you wear a suit jacket over a hoodie,’ one wrote.
Some seemed concerned for van Onselen’s welfare. ‘PVO is wearing a blazer and a hoodie at the same time on Insiders. Is he OK??’ read a post.
Said another: ‘Mid life crisis coming’.
Others thought viewers should concentrate on what the panelists were saying rather than analysing their wardrobes.
‘What’s the fuss about PVO hoodie,?’ wrote a defender. ‘Like most Australian men on a Sunday. Focus on women’s inequality and poverty you Twitter dopes.’
‘Personally I don’t give a rats that PVO is wearing a hoodie. I must be in a minority,’ said another.
A smaller group was more interested in where van Onselen had located his fleecy top: ‘Why is PVO wearing a Succession hoodie on #insiders, but also, where do I get one?’
Van Onselen is a professor of politics at the University of Western Australia and also writes a column for The Australian newspaper, which is published by News Corp.
His Insiders appearance came two days after Mr Murdoch’s son Lachlan dropped a defamation action against the Crikey news website.
News Corp recently settled another lawsuit with US voting firm Dominion, which alleged Fox News had aired false claims its machines were used to rig the 2020 presidential election, for $1.2billion.
As co-host of The Project and Network Ten’s political editor van Onselen wore a suit and tie when he was camera, as well as his trademark facial stubble
