Lisa Millar and the most trolled skirt on the internet.

In March this year, journalist and host of ABC's News Breakfast program, Lisa Millar went about her Monday as usual. She arrived on set; she delivered the news, and she wrapped taping.

Except on this particular day, she wore a mint green skirt. An innocuous detail that wouldn't bear mentioning if it weren't for the series of events that shaped the next 24 hours of her life.

Millar was vilified for it. Many viewers deemed the skirt 'too short'. Others told her she should 'remain behind the desk' so others did not have to see her in said skirt. 

One particularly nasty comment said: "You've put me off my breakfast muffin!"

The nasty comments online came hard and fast for days.

On this week's episode of No Filter, the 54-year-old was joined by fellow journalist Leigh Sales and spoke to Freedman about how their friendship had helped her through 'the most traumatising time'. 

Watch: Mia Freedman sat down with Lisa Millar and Leigh Sales to talk about friendship and journalism. Post continues after video.

"In the case of Lisa, I just found it so underserved and so unjust," said Leigh. "My blood would just be boiling with rage. I guess it is that thing of - because you obviously want to help - it is that understanding that if I weigh in on this, I will make it worse and draw attention to it."

The pair got to work on drafting a statement that would go on to defiantly stand resolute in response to the bullies and trolls.

"What does this say to the younger women in my life, that if their grown up aunty, for example, who is by all accounts successful and has done well and worked hard and tried to treat people well, which is what I've always tried to do," Lisa said. "If she is being attacked for something she's wearing on television, then what does that say?"

The original driving force behind the statement came from a place of anger and torment and ended up becoming a powerful war cry against the vile, faceless keyboard warriors who set out to wear women down.

Two days after she wore the skirt, which was ironically on International Women's Day, Lisa stared down the barrel of the camera and delivered the statement she'd co-written with Sales: 

"The fact that what I wore on Monday attracted obnoxious commentary on Twitter – foul, disgusting personal abuse that I couldn't and wouldn't repeat – was upsetting. That it then ended up online on some news sites where the photos and the abuse were republished made me angry," she said.

"Thanks for all the support, you've all been awesome and some of you pretty funny, some of you suggesting if we all turned up in pyjamas you'd still be fans of the show. I am angry though, on this International Women’s Day, on behalf of myself, but also on behalf of other women, young women, who see those stories and see someone like me being violently abused day after day for whatever reason bullies can find. I worry it might make you think that no progress has been made and that it's not worth it to be a woman in the public arena.

"On this International Women's Day I want to tell you the response over that rubbish yesterday gives me hope. We are making progress, and we will make more, and there are so many awesome women who we can all look up to. Let's celebrate them today. And please, make a conscious decision today to be part of the solution. Play a part in making our communities a better, kinder place, for everyone."

It was moving; it was powerful, and it was the perfect response.

Listen to No Filter where Mia speaks to Leigh Sales and Lisa Miller about their meet cute, divorce, online harassment and friendship. Post continues below.

Feature Image: Facebook/No Filter.