A few nights ago, my wife and I were at the house of some friends (a couple) for a birthday party. We used to be close to these friends, but hadn't seen them in a while since they lived rather far across town. It was a pretty casual party. Most everyone was in jeans and sweaters. In the first few minutes of arriving, the husband of the couple approached us and excitedly commented on how great my wife looked (she is average sized, but had probably lost 15-20 lbs since we'd seen them last). His exact words were along the lines of "You look great! Turn around so I can see you." 

My wife quickly stammered something about that being an inappropriate thing to ask her and stormed off to the bathroom, to the confusion of my friend and I. She came out a short time later and asked if we could leave. On they way home, I asked her what had upset her. She was surprised I didn't know. She said that his comment for her to "turn around" for him was completely inappropriate and sexist, and meant to objectify her, like what happened to tennis player Eugenie Bouchard a few weeks ago at the Australian Open. I hadn't thought it was creepy at all. I tried to argue that he was just trying to compliment her and she had been  a little over-sensitive about it; that the "turn around so I can see you" comment was like what an older relative might say to you if they hadn't seen you in a while (this couple are about 15 years older than us, in their mid-late 40's). Since the incident, she has been furious with me for defending him and says any other women would feel the same way about what he'd said.

Was I way off base here? Was what he said inappropriate?
user
Friend complimented my wife
assistant
A few nights ago, my wife and I were at the house of some friends (a couple) for a birthday party. We used to be close to these friends, but hadn't seen them in a while since they lived rather far across town. It was a pretty casual party. Most everyone was in jeans and sweaters. In the first few minutes of arriving, the husband of the couple approached us and excitedly commented on how great my wife looked (she is average sized, but had probably lost 15-20 lbs since we'd seen them last). His exact words were along the lines of "You look great! Turn around so I can see you." 

My wife quickly stammered something about that being an inappropriate thing to ask her and stormed off to the bathroom, to the confusion of my friend and I. She came out a short time later and asked if we could leave. On they way home, I asked her what had upset her. She was surprised I didn't know. She said that his comment for her to "turn around" for him was completely inappropriate and sexist, and meant to objectify her, like what happened to tennis player Eugenie Bouchard a few weeks ago at the Australian Open. I hadn't thought it was creepy at all. I tried to argue that he was just trying to compliment her and she had been  a little over-sensitive about it; that the "turn around so I can see you" comment was like what an older relative might say to you if they hadn't seen you in a while (this couple are about 15 years older than us, in their mid-late 40's). Since the incident, she has been furious with me for defending him and says any other women would feel the same way about what he'd said.

Was I way off base here? Was what he said inappropriate?
user
Friend complimented my wife
assistant