Brooke Shields has slammed Barbara Walters for asking her intrusive sexual questions when she was just 15.
The actress and model starred in a controversial Calvin Klein TV commercial in 1980. During the ad, 15-year-old Shields posed in Calvin Klein jeans while saying the now-famous slogan: "You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing."
After sparking public outcry, the ad was banned by many TV networks. Meanwhile, the teenage Shields became the subject of media scrutiny, with particular attention being paid to her sexual history.
Now 56, Shields has spoken out about that particular period in her childhood and even branded an interview she did with Barbara Walters at the time as "practically criminal."
During an appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast this week, the Blue Lagoon actress told host Dax Shepard that interviewers at the time "never wanted my answer - they just wanted their point of view".
She added of the interview with Walters that: "It's practically criminal. It is not journalism."
Shepard agreed, saying "that Barbara Walters interview is maddening."
During the infamous interview, Walters, now 92, grilled the adolescent about her measurements, then made her stand up so they could compare physiques.
Later on, she accused Shields' mom Teri - who was sitting in on the interview - of stealing her daughter's childhood. The young actress defended her mother, though she appeared uncomfortable.
This isn't the first time Shields has spoken out about the controversy around the ad.
In a video for Vogue in October, the actress recalled how she had been attacked by the media for a campaign she didn't even realize was sexual at the time.
"I was naive. I didn’t think anything of it. I didn’t think it had to do with underwear. I didn’t think it was sexual in nature," she said. "I would say it about my sister: ‘Nobody can come between me and my sister.’”
Most recently Shields has starred in the holiday rom-com A Castle for Christmas. The Netflix original movie follows a bestselling author (Shields) who falls in love with a Scottish castle (and its grumpy duke) while taking a festive mini-break. It is available to stream now.