Video: News anchor calls out viewer as a "bully" on the air
LA CROSSE, WI -- Jennifer Livingston, a local news anchor in La Crosse, Wisconsin, calls out viewer as a "bully" on the air.
In a YouTube video that is very likely to go viral, and spur more debate about the issues of obesity and bullying in our society, a television news anchor is making a statement. A viewer wrote to Jennifer Livingston of WKBT-TV: "I was surprised indeed to witness that your physical condition hasn't improved for many years," wrote the viewer, who said Livingston was not a "suitable example" for young girls. "I leave you this note hoping that you'll reconsider your responsibility as a local public personality to present and promote a healthy lifestyle."
Livingston addressed her bully on-air Tuesday, prefacing her message by saying that she has received words of support from "hundreds" of people and that the response has been "truly inspiring." She said that bullying scared her as the mother of three daughters. "If you are at home and you are talking about the fat news lady, guess what?" she said. "Your children are probably going to go to school and call someone fat."
The online site Jezebel.com called Livingston's response "the best thing you'll see all day." The site's author goes on to say, "Fatphobia is rampant, and fatshaming is, somehow, the one acceptable form of bigotry we have in this society."
What do you think of the viewer's email? What about the news anchor's on-air response? We're reading your comments below.
