Like many celebrities, her appearances on talk shows and at public events are frequently analyzed for fashion trends, comfort-focused dressing, and style choices.
In 2020, Gifford made headlines for appearing on her show without wearing a bra. The incident occurred during a segment where she was discussing her new book, "It's Not Easy Being Me: Reflections on My Life." Gifford, who was 67 at the time, explained that she had simply forgotten to put on a bra that morning.
Gifford addressed these rumors directly in archived quotes found on IMDb :
Gifford is well-known for joking about her own aging process and body on air, often preemptively addressing fashion critiques with her signature wit. kathie lee gifford braless
The outspoken TV host and author shares her thoughts on body positivity, aging, and why she's ditching the bra
For those looking into the broader topics Gifford was championing:
"It's extremely cold in our studio, so you could be wearing a steel harness and you'd still have a little action, if you know what I mean. I do not like industrial-strength push-up bras. I wear very flimsy things. Besides, what 46-year-old woman who's nursed two kids goes braless?" Like many celebrities, her appearances on talk shows
Kathie Lee Gifford's decision to go braless can be seen as a feminist act, one that challenges traditional notions of femininity and beauty. By embracing her body and refusing to wear a bra, she's taking control of her own narrative and making a statement about what it means to be a woman.
Gifford accidentally represents a movement that sociologists have started calling the "Invisible Age"—when women realize that the cultural pressure to be sexy, perky, and "on" finally lifts.
The New York Post reported in 1999 that the studio was hit with a wave of phone calls and letters from traditional viewers demanding that the hostess "harness" her silhouette. Gifford addressed these rumors directly in archived quotes
Public reaction to Gifford’s style choices generally splits into two categories:
As of 2026, Kathie Lee Gifford, now 72, remains active in the public eye. While she has stepped away from her daily role on the Today show, she continues to work on various media projects and maintain close friendships, particularly with her former co-host Hoda Kotb, who she says "made me a better person". Their bond remains strong, as evidenced by their humorous on-air reunion in March 2026 where Gifford teased Kotb about reading her book on the beach in a "thong". In a major life change, Gifford recently bid farewell to her longtime home in Greenwich, Connecticut, putting the sprawling waterfront estate, "Cedar Cliff," on the market for $100 million.
The controversy began in the fall of 1999, when the New York Post published a now-infamous article with a headline that perfectly captured the furor: "WHAT DOES BRA-ZEN KATHIE LEE WANT TO GET OFF HER CHEST?" At the time, Gifford was the beloved co-host of "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee." The article claimed that her "shocking new penchant for going braless on-air has viewers up in arms and everyone else wondering what she's trying to prove." According to the report, the show had been flooded with calls and letters from angry fans demanding that she "harness her hooters." The situation became so heated that producers resorted to desperate measures, using "strategically placed plants and flower arrangements" to obscure her chest during broadcasts. Gifford, for her part, seemed undeterred, continuing to wear "clingy tube tops, dresses and shirts that left little to the imagination," which only fueled further speculation.