After Robert Peston underwent an image change, his new haircut got its own Twitter parody account that claims to keep the BBC's economics editor's brain warm while occasionally tweeting views on the economy.
But Mr Peston has revealed the "extreme" interest in his new look on Twitter has a "dark side" with people saying "rude and disgusting" things about him - and how nearly all of it comes from men.
In recent months, the journalist has begun sporting longer, floppier hair than the short crop he had when he first came to prominence covering the early days of the global economic collapse.
![robert peston]()
Robert Peston's old look
![robert peston]()
...and his current look
Writing a calm and measured response to the comments in the Evening Standard, Mr Peston gave a random selection of tweets he has received after appearing on the news, including:
He writes: "There are plenty more, moaning about the way I speak, my suit, my scarf, my coat, complaining that I should have a different knot in my tie, insisting that I must be having some kind of breakdown, alleging (unfairly, I thought) that my shirts aren’t ironed, and repeating the terrible slur that my lack of grey hairs isn’t natural."
But he added: "There is a dark side. Over the years, some people have written really rude and disgusting things about me. As it happens, I have a thick skin and don’t get unduly bothered.
"But for some journalists it can be very scary to be treated as a piece of national property to be kicked and abused in any and every conceivable way."
He added that, though many of the comments relate to his appearance or unusual voice, his female colleagues face much worse.
"My female colleagues normally grin and bear the endless sexist commentary in mainstream and social media about their legs, hair, boobs and skirts — or whether they are 'strident', 'hectoring' or "feisty'," he wrote.
"But this sort of objectification can be sinister and pernicious. Women are typically subjected to the most brutal analysis on social media of their appearances, language and mannerisms — in a way that is insidiously undermining of their achievements and status."
He hints at a reason why this, saying that nearly all the unpleasant comments he has received came from men and "the etiquette on social media is very different between the sexes".
"Or at least that has been my experience. So typically the brutish and blunt comments are made by men. Women tend only to write when they have something positive or helpful to say."
The Twitter reaction to Peston's piece seemed to be a lot more positive than the bad things what he was describing.
Mr Peston said people in person were "much nicer" and added the comments he received over the death of his wife, novelist Sian Busby, in 2012 of lung cancer and his efforts to publicise the poor state of treatment for the disease in Britain were overwhelmingly positive.
![sian busby]()
Sian Busby
He concludes by saying being objectified "isn't all bad" and says he has even encouraged it at times by retweeting the parody account for his hair.
He added: “here’s the scoop. I have just collected my first new pair of spectacles in two years. I think of them as homage to the young Elvis Costello. But doubtless Twitter will put me right."
But Mr Peston has revealed the "extreme" interest in his new look on Twitter has a "dark side" with people saying "rude and disgusting" things about him - and how nearly all of it comes from men.
In recent months, the journalist has begun sporting longer, floppier hair than the short crop he had when he first came to prominence covering the early days of the global economic collapse.
Writing a calm and measured response to the comments in the Evening Standard, Mr Peston gave a random selection of tweets he has received after appearing on the news, including:
BREAKING NEWS: Robert Peston arrested on suspicion of stealing Hugh Grant's hair in Four Weddings And A Funeral. pic.twitter.com/Q8zAE5L3Ix
— Boris Starling (@vodkaboris) February 5, 2015Big shout out to @Peston and his lovely hair. Quickly emerging as the thinking woman's Harry Styles.
— David Preece (@davidpreece12) February 2, 2015Robert Peston really needs to relocate his hair parting.
— Pods (@morris_oxford) February 9, 2015Oi! @Peston two things. 1. Stop speaking like a twat. 2. Get a hair cut.
— Robin Clark (@R1clark) January 28, 2015He writes: "There are plenty more, moaning about the way I speak, my suit, my scarf, my coat, complaining that I should have a different knot in my tie, insisting that I must be having some kind of breakdown, alleging (unfairly, I thought) that my shirts aren’t ironed, and repeating the terrible slur that my lack of grey hairs isn’t natural."
But he added: "There is a dark side. Over the years, some people have written really rude and disgusting things about me. As it happens, I have a thick skin and don’t get unduly bothered.
"But for some journalists it can be very scary to be treated as a piece of national property to be kicked and abused in any and every conceivable way."
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He added that, though many of the comments relate to his appearance or unusual voice, his female colleagues face much worse.
"My female colleagues normally grin and bear the endless sexist commentary in mainstream and social media about their legs, hair, boobs and skirts — or whether they are 'strident', 'hectoring' or "feisty'," he wrote.
"But this sort of objectification can be sinister and pernicious. Women are typically subjected to the most brutal analysis on social media of their appearances, language and mannerisms — in a way that is insidiously undermining of their achievements and status."
He hints at a reason why this, saying that nearly all the unpleasant comments he has received came from men and "the etiquette on social media is very different between the sexes".
"Or at least that has been my experience. So typically the brutish and blunt comments are made by men. Women tend only to write when they have something positive or helpful to say."
The Twitter reaction to Peston's piece seemed to be a lot more positive than the bad things what he was describing.
Well I like the softer @Peston hairdo. Reminds me of heroes of 1970s films about tormented New Yorkers in black polo necks
— anne mcelvoy (@annemcelvoy) February 11, 2015Amusing, self-deprecating and at the same time very serious from @Peston on Twitter comments. http://t.co/2tzGs6yRPj
— Mark Chapman (@markchapman) February 11, 2015@Peston sorry to hear ya'ravin' bovva ova yer barnet. Loox pukka to me.#BobsBarnet
— Adrian Malpass (@AdrianEXG) February 11, 2015Mr Peston said people in person were "much nicer" and added the comments he received over the death of his wife, novelist Sian Busby, in 2012 of lung cancer and his efforts to publicise the poor state of treatment for the disease in Britain were overwhelmingly positive.
He concludes by saying being objectified "isn't all bad" and says he has even encouraged it at times by retweeting the parody account for his hair.
He added: “here’s the scoop. I have just collected my first new pair of spectacles in two years. I think of them as homage to the young Elvis Costello. But doubtless Twitter will put me right."