Patricia Krentcil, Tanning Mom, Defends Her Extreme Bronzing (VIDEO)

Patricia Krentcil is known for her extremely bronzed epidermis, but all the criticism she's receiving is making her see red.

Krentcil was accused of second-degree child endangerment when her then-5-year-old daughter Anna showed up at school with a sunburn thought to be caused by Krentcil taking her to a tanning salon. Since then, the mom has singlehandedly made "tanorexic" a trending term on the Internet.

Although she was released on $25,000 bail, Krentcil faces up to 10 years in prison if she is convicted.

Meanwhile, she dealing with the court of public opinion, having been stalked by paparazzi, satirized on Saturday Night Live and serving as the inspiration for a tanning mom action figure.

Krentcil appeared on the "Today" show on Monday to tell her critics to "step off" their nasty comments.

Despite prosecutors' claims that Krentcil took her child to a salon, Krenctil insists the child never set foot in a tanning bed and was burned from the sun, the International Business Times reported.

"She never went in," Krentcil told the show. "It was beautiful out, and they went into the kiddie pool. She's a redhead. She got sunburnt."

Krentcil claims her tanning is a harmless activity that doesn't affect anyone but herself, the New York Post reported.

"I didn't do anything wrong. Is there something wrong about getting your nails done or somebody who smokes too much or somebody who overeats?" Krentcil asked rhetorically. "If this was such a problem, why wasn't this said years ago?"

Krentcil also admits that comments by fellow moms who question her parenting get under her extremely tanned skin.

"Look in the mirror and look at yourself instead of looking at me," she said. "I'm sorry I'm tan. I like to be tan. It just feels good. But I really that think these moms ... need to step off and step away."

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jbrice1982

MPH (c), CLWMS, CSNS

22 Fans

12:17 AM on 06/16/2012

Did you lose your mind before or after you fell into the Sun?

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greenstraws

I am me not you.

366 Fans

10:55 PM on 05/25/2012

OMG, she just looks beyond ridiculous!

Genora

42 Fans

05:46 PM on 05/25/2012

My goodness! Someone please help that poor lady

ksgirrl

19 Fans

03:12 PM on 05/24/2012

I've said it before, I'll say it again... she always sounds like she's drunk!! Either she's an alcoholic or all the tanning has warped her brain and impeded her speech!!

DrB3

189 Fans

04:01 PM on 05/25/2012

You're probably right. Unless she's had a closed head injury, this looks like chemical dependency/ alcoholism; I hope Child Protective Services is more interested in that than her poor skin care regimen.

franko12

12 Fans

09:06 AM on 05/24/2012

I see why this country is as messed up as it is. Too many people medaling in things that are none of their business!!! As long as her daughter is not in that tanning bed which is against the law then leave this woman alone!!! What she does is no ones business but hers!! If she wants to give herself cancer that is her business not yours!!! Like if I was a smoker which I am not but if I want to smoke myself to death that is my business

pyradius

Death by a thousand tax cuts

186 Fans

03:54 PM on 05/25/2012

Sadly I have to agree, although the image/messaging of tanning beds as 'safe' is something that should be looked into in general. As a red-head myself, my parents did their best as I was growing up and I still managed to get burned a number of times. I can't imagine them getting prosecuted for that. However, given this woman's complete lack of awareness of what the sun/tanning beds do to a person, and her nonchalant way of explaining her daughters sunburn, I do fear for the long-term health of the daughter. That however is not something the courts should be answering, and should come from responsible societal messaging about the true dangers of UVA/UVB.

04:12 PM on 05/25/2012

You're right, you can smoke or abuse yourself to death. But do you not feel that when one has a baby, that one has a responsibility to that child?

You don't think that doing things that endanger one's health, and significantly shorten one's life (like driving drunk and smoking, both apparently pet hobbies of hers) could lead to that child being motherless, a horrible position to put a child in?

I'm not advocating that we legislate sensibility. But it should concern the state when a mother is consistently drunk and she is the primary caretaker.

sybilquestion

10 Fans

11:38 AM on 05/27/2012

Did you ever read the original article. Your comment is typical of how the truth gets distorted and distorted....
She has a husband that LIVES with her and takes care of his children and that is more then many women can claim. Did it make everyone feel good attacking a woman that is not a public figure and loves her children. Dysfunction is rampant in our society so where are all these perfect people that viciously attacked this woman. And please note: I do not tan nor do I promote tanning in tanning beds, however, it is none of my business if this woman chooses to tan excessively.
And she didn't bring her child in the tanning booth.
I think people said it best years ago, "Stop being so nosy."
So did everyone that attacked and vilified this woman feel that much better about themselves. If so please seek mental help.
AGAIN, I am not applauding excessive tanning but what is more repulsive is the stupidity that is running rampant in our society and which is made blatantly evident by the people that attacked this woman that obviously has some issues.

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jandos

Realistically optimistic

115 Fans

02:04 AM on 05/24/2012

How good is the cancer going to feel?

fourlivelys

38 Fans

11:37 AM on 05/23/2012

So...how come the story about how the little one got burned in the first place has changed numerous times?

Lets see...So far, it's been said that she was 1)with Dad, not mom, and playing outside 2) with mom at salon, but NOT in tanning room 3)playing outside with both parents on a completely different outing and now 4) playing in the kiddie pool, not at salon.

So, what's the real story, lady? Where exactly was your kid? Who was she with? Do you even know?????

I'd be investigating more now than ever.

musicmasterno1

Euthanize the dogfighter, not the dog.....

225 Fans

09:14 PM on 05/22/2012

Krentcil.......hmmmm

Is it just me, or do other people think of Dwight Shrute's dentist named "Krentist" on "The Office" when they see her name?

HuffPoJayJoe

29 Fans

06:02 PM on 05/22/2012

NOT NEWS - OR interesting any more for that matter. It was a curiosity at best when this first came out - HUFFPO - PLEASE STOP GIVING THIS WOMAN ATTENTION!

cmadison

21 Fans

05:54 PM on 05/22/2012

It may be a bit odd and very damaging, but she's right. If it makes her happy, then more power to her as long as she doesn't endanger her child. That's crossing the line into child abuse.

Everyone chooses their own vice.