Glenda Gilson says wolf whistling is a 'compliment' and isn't 'offensive'

The TV presenter said that she doesn’t consider the practice “offensive at all” and insisted that it’s actually flattering.

“I don't think it's a bad thing. You could take it as a compliment,” she told Andrea Gilligan on Newstalk’s Lunchtime Live today.

“This is coming from a woman who hasn’t had a wolf whistle now in many a year.

“It was something I suppose happened when I was younger, when you were around town and probably dolled up more than I would be these days.

“I know it's a real Irish thing and a lot of women don't like taking compliments, and they don't take them too easily.

“And it can be mortifying walking by a load of builders hanging out the side of a building, they give you a wolf whistle and you're just afraid that your heel might break or your skirt might blow up, it's kind of a mortifying thing, but it's not such a bad thing.

“Certainly not in a big, auld bad world that we live in right now. I also don't think it should be taken too seriously.”

While many women believe the acts of wolf whistling and cat calling to be aggressive and even offensive at times, Glenda disagrees.

“I don't think it's offensive at all,” she said.

“I guess women mightn't like it, because they're embarrassed or they're mortified, I get that.

“But don't take it too seriously, a whistle's a whistle, someone's paying you a compliment. They noticed you as you walked by, so I think ‘Ah sure, thanks a lot.’

“There's so much bad in this world, and I think an aul' wolf-whistle in the least of our worries,” she added.

Glenda’s comments were met with mixed reactions from listeners, with some people completely disagreeing with the model online.

One person said: “Glenda Gilson on radio defending wolf whistling- we are back in 2005 baby.”

Others – mostly men - praised the interview and agreed that wolf whistling should be viewed as a compliment.

One tweet read: “Great discussion on wolf whistling on @LunchtimeLiveNT. @Glendagilson telling @andreagilligan why she doesn’t think it’s a bad thing.

“Being wolf whistled by either gender I take it as a compliment - but I see why it can make some uncomfortable.”