The wife of AFL great Marcus Bontempelli has responded to vile social media abuse she received for the dress she wore to Monday night’s Brownlow Medal.
Neila Bontempelli attended the evening alongside her Bulldogs husband in a silver gown with black lapels and a red embellishment on the waist.
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It received backlash from some users online, with comparisons made to both a boxing gown and karate robe.
Now Neila, who last month gave birth to the couple’s first child Daisy, has hit back at those comments by explaining the reasons behind the outfit.
Watch Marcus and Neila Bontempelli on the red carpet via the video player above
Speaking on The Blunt And The Beautiful podcast, she said: “I was recovering from a complex birth and caesarean.
“My mum is in town from Canada. We had help on the night, so we thought it was a good opportunity to get dressed and feel good after many sleepless nights covered in milk.
“I’ve always told my mum about the Brownlow and she’s followed it online from Canada and the socials, so it was very special for her to be there on the day and see all the preparation that went into it.
“All in all, the worst of the comments was that the dress resembled a boxing gown or a dressing gown.
“But it was tough to find something that met the requirements I had. I needed to have good breastfeeding access, loose on the waist for a C-section scar, bandages, leakage — the list goes on — all while loving the dress and staying true to my own personal style.
“Which I hear now, loud and clear, is not for everyone.”
Neila shared a picture of her breastfeeding Daisy in the dress prior to the Brownlow on Monday night.
And while some may have upset her by questioning her dress, she is proud of the choice and insists Marcus was a big supporter of the decision.
Neila added: “I understand people are going to have their opinions, but when people write, ‘She must have been high from the gas from birth’, or, ‘This is awful and an equal embarrassment to her partner’, those things are shocking as they are upsetting.
“In the end, I received thousands of lovely messages from people saying they loved it, even from other stylists and celebrities, which had a lovely impact.
“Most importantly, I was comfortable and happy and confident, and Marcus thought I looked absolutely beautiful.”
Neila also shared an image on her Instagram story on Tuesday of her holding a mug which read: “I saw that. — Karma.”
Marcus and Neila met after the 2021 AFL grand final, and got engaged in Italy in 2024.
Their bucks and hen dos took place in Las Vegas, before their wedding in Napa Valley in October last year.