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Matt Taylor's shirt sparks sexism debate in science

opinion-review · 2026-05-05

Matt Taylor, a scientist on the Rosetta mission, wore a shirt with images of lingerie-clad pin-up girls at a press conference. Critics called it sexist, sparking online outrage. Taylor later apologized, saying he made a mistake. The incident drew comparisons to Guido Barilla's homophobic remarks. The article criticizes political correctness and superficial activism.

Key facts

  • Matt Taylor is a scientist on the Rosetta mission.
  • He wore a shirt with pin-up girls in lingerie at a press conference.
  • The shirt was criticized as sexist on Twitter and blogs.
  • Taylor apologized, saying he made a mistake.
  • Astrophysicist Katie Mack said the shirt was inappropriate.
  • Blogger James Di Gioia called society retrograde.
  • London mayor Boris Johnson defended Taylor, calling the criticism hypocritical.
  • The article compares the incident to Guido Barilla's apology for homophobic remarks.

Entities

Artists

  • Matt Taylor
  • Katie Mack
  • James Di Gioia
  • Boris Johnson
  • Guido Barilla
  • Helga Marsala

Institutions

  • Artribune
  • Rosetta mission
  • European Space Agency

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom

Sources