Chrissy Teigen clarifies tweet about horseback riding after sparking criticism

Cookbook author has taken up horseback riding following loss of son Jack

Chrissy Teigen clarifies tweet about learning to horseback ride (AFP via Getty Images)

Chrissy Teigen has defended herself from criticism over a tweet about horseback riding, with the cookbook author explaining that the tweet was “misinterpreted”.

On Saturday, Teigen revealed on Twitter that she was taking up horseback riding after her therapist encouraged her to find a hobby that was “just for me” because she has “absolutely nothing” that she does for herself.

“My therapist says I need something that I do for just me, as I have absolutely nothing currently lol,” Teigen wrote, alongside a photo of a black horse named Cosmo lying down. “Today begins my journey into the horse world.”

“I hope this dude likes me,” she continued, adding: “He’s so handsome and appears lazy, I love.”

The tweet prompted backlash from some of Teigen’s followers, with some taking offence to the 35-year-old implication that she has nothing.

“‘Absolutely nothing’ is clearly a matter of perspective, I guess,” one person wrote. “Other people’s nothing’s sure seem a lot darker and inescapable right now. The ‘let them eat cake’ inability to read a room is tiring.”

Another said: “A lot of people are unemployed and struggling to feed their family in the midst of a pandemic. Maybe now isn't a great time to say you ‘have nothing’ so you bought a horse to entertain yourself.”

Teigen responded to the second tweet on her Twitter, where she clarified that she doesn’t have “nothing,” but rather has nothing she does just for herself.

“A lot of you really misinterpreted this tweet and I guess that’s on me. I didn’t say I have nothing, I said I have nothing I do for just me. A convo with a therapist. A hobby. Cause I lost a baby. And I’m figuring myself out,” Teigen replied.

The mother-of-two also explained that she didn’t buy the horse, joking: “But oh my god, what if I did?”

Following her reply, many assured Teigen that she does not need to explain how she deals with her grief over losing her and John Legend’s third child.

“You are handling grief the best way you can. You don’t owe anyone an explanation, you do what you need to do,” one person wrote.

Another said: “Even if you hadn't lost a baby, you need something for you. Hope you are doing OK.”

Others shared their own experiences horseback riding while promising the model that she would love it.

“People suck and misinterpret you on purpose. Horses are wonderful ointments for your heart and soul, and I hope they give you as much joy as they give me!” someone else replied.

Since sharing that she and Legend lost their baby in October, Teigen has been open about her experience with grief. In November, she revealed that she had been taking a break from social media after falling into a “bit of a grief depression hole”.

“But do not worry as I have so much help around me to get better and I’ll be fixed soon,” she wrote at the time.