HLN’s Ashleigh Banfield has not been shy in her dismissal of Katie Way, the Babe.net writer who reported anonymous allegations against Aziz Ansari, suggesting that she has “chiseled away” at the #MeToo movement by making “appalling” claims against the actor after simply reporting on a “bad date.”

To say Way did not take kindly to the response would be an understatement. The Babe.net reporter took the time to write Banfield an absolutely insulting email, which the HLN host read on-air, citing that it gave viewers an “insight into the caliber of person who held that nuclear weapon that was wielded on Ansari’s career.”

“Ashleigh, someone I am certain nobody under the age of 45 has heard of,” the email began. “I hope the 500 retweets on the single news write up made that burgundy lipstick, bad highlights, second wave feminist has-been really relevant for a little while.”

Banfield ripped into Way, calling into question both her intentions and her intelligence.

“The reason I want to share that is because if you truly believe in the #MeToo movement, if you truly believe in women’s rights, if you truly believe in feminism, the last thing you should do is attack someone in an ad hominem way for her age, I’m 50, and for my highlights,” she said.

“I was brown-haired for a while when I was a war corespondent, interviewing Yasser Arafat, and in Afghanistan and Iraq, Gaza and the West Bank. Google those places.”

Banfield wrapped it up by saying “that is not the way we have this conversation, as women or men”:

“We do not attack people for their age, or their highlights or their lipstick because it is the most hypocritical thing a woman who says she supports the women’s movement could ever do and that’s the caliber of the woman who was given all of this power and was able to wield this power.”

Watch above, via HLN.

UPDATE –– 4:17 pm ET: Business Insider has obtained the full email Banfield read (in response to an invite to appear on air) and… hoo boy:

It’s an unequivocal no from me. The way your colleague Ashleigh (?), someone I’m certain no one under the age of 45 has ever heard of, by the way, ripped into my source directly was one of the lowest, most despicable things I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Shame on her. Shame on HLN. Ashleigh could have “talked” to me. She could have “talked” to my editor or my publication. But instead, she targeted a 23-year-old woman in one of the most vulnerable moments of her life, someone she’s never f—— met before, for a little attention. I hope the ratings were worth it! I hope the ~500 RTs on the single news write-up made that burgundy lipstick bad highlights second-wave feminist has-been feel really relevant for a little while. She DISGUSTS me, and I hope when she has more distance from the moment she has enough of a conscience left to feel remotely ashamed — doubt it, but still. Must be nice to piggyback off of the fact that another woman was brave enough to speak up and add another dimension to the societal conversation about sexual assault. Grace wouldn’t know how that feels, because she struck out into this alone, because she’s the bravest person I’ve ever met. I would NEVER go on your network. I would never even watch your network. No woman my age would ever watch your network. I will remember this for the rest of my career — I’m 22 and so far, not too shabby! And I will laugh the day you fold. If you could let Ashleigh know I said this, and that she is no-holds-barred the reason, it’d be a real treat for me. Thanks,

Katie

[image via screenshot]

—

Follow Lawrence Bonk (@sidescrollers) on Twitter

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]