Sofia Vergara defends her Emmy skit after it's called 'blatantly sexist'

The internet was abuzz Monday night after Modern Family star Sofia Vergara participated in a bit some deemed sexist at the Emmy Awards.

Vergara introduced Bruce Rosenblum, chairman of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He asked Vergara to stand on a slowly rotating pedestal, and he began to yack away about the industry. Vergara was clearly playing along as she struck poses and smiled awkwardly, and Rosenblum ended his spiel with, "What truly matters is that we never forget that our success is based on always giving the viewer something compelling to watch." Of course, Vergara is that something compelling, and she got the last line, saying as she stepped down from the pedestal, "OK enough, enough, that's why I stopped doing the car shows."

Time called it "a blatantly sexist trope," while Jezebel said she was "treated like a literal object." Vergara disagreed, telling Entertainment Weekly after the show: "I think it is absolutely the opposite. It means that somebody can be hot and also be funny and make fun of herself. I think it's ridiculous that somebody started this — I know who she was — who has no sense of humor [and should] lighten up a little bit." Vergara hasn't revealed yet just who she thinks started the backlash. --Catherine Garcia

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