Reporter Forced To Leave Execution Viewing As Her ‘Skirt Was Too Short’

An Alabama reporter heading for the execution chamber viewing was halted due to her inappropriate outfit. Officials deemed Ivana Hrynkiw Shatara’s skirt and open-toe heels “too revealing” and only allowed her in when she switched for tennis shoes and raincoats.

She looked understandably ridiculous, but it was “appropriate” per the regulation a staff member of the Alabama Department of Corrections was enforcing.

She attended the execution of Joe Nathan James Jr. in Atmore, Alabama, on July 28. The 50-year-old was sentenced to death for shooting his former 26-year-old girlfriend, Faith Hall, to death in 1994. He was arrested 28 years ago.

The reporter explained that she’d worn the same outfit on multiple occasions, including multiple executions viewing events at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility, with no problem.

Shatara only decided to share the details of the story after a CBS reporter shared the story online on Twitter, prompting her to fill in the details from readers’ questions. She began her story, “I was not going to share this story, but after another member of the media called attention to it, I want to get the story out there.”

“Tonight, a representative of the Alabama Department of Corrections told me publicly I couldn’t view the execution because my skirt was too short.”

“I have worn this skirt to prior executions without incident, to work, professional events, and more, and I believe it is more than appropriate. At 5’7 and 5’10, with my heels on I am a tall and long-legged person. I tried to pull my skirt to my hips to make the skirt longer but was told it was still not appropriate.”

“Luckily a very kind photographer from a Birmingham TV station offered me his rain gear – waterproof, Colombia PFG style fisherman’s wader pants. The ADOC spokesperson deemed this an appropriate swap for my skirt. I put on the man’s pants and attached the suspenders underneath my shirt to stay up.”

“Then I was told my shoes (open toe heels) were also too revealing, and I needed to change shoes.”

“Thankfully, I had a new pair of tennis shoes in my car. Despite wearing a pair of waders from a man I have never met and casual tennis shoes, I continued to do my job. This was an uncomfortable situation, and I felt embarrassed to have my body, and my clothes questioned in front of a room of people I mostly had never met.”

“I sat down, tried to stop blushing, and did my work. As women often have to do. If you read this far, you get a medal. Thank you for your support!”

The new visitor rules for the ADOC in 2022 were that “all dresses, skirts, and pants shall extend below the knee (females only). Splits/Slits must be knee length or lower (females only).”

The viral tweet has been liked 50.8k times, with many sharing similar humiliating experiences in professional environments.

Dana Hall McCain from AL.com nodded to these people and commented on the situation, “That whole thing was ridiculous, and I’m sorry you had to go through it.”

Thousands had also agreed when this reminds them of when women were policed for bathing suits not having the appropriate length in 1921.