A viral video is making the rounds of a television news anchor who strikes back after a viewer criticizes her appearance.
Jennifer Livingston of WKBT-TV (a CBS affiliate in LaCrosse, Wisconsin) took a moment to respond to a harsh viewer email on air and turned it into a powerful tirade against online bullying.
Livingston read the viewer’s on air, which took issue with the fact that she is overweight.
?Obesity is one of the worst choices a person can make and one of the most dangerous habits to maintain,? the viewer wrote.
?I leave you this note hoping that you?ll reconsider your responsibility as a local public personality to present and promote a healthy lifestyle.?
What came next was a response that I consider total awesomeness!
Watch video below…
VIDEO: News Anchor Responds to “Fat” Email…
According to Mashable, Livingston?s husband, fellow WKBT anchor Mike Thompson, posted the email on his Facebook Page and received a huge outpouring of support.
The supportive comments gave Livingston the strength and conviction to call out the writer as an “online bully”.
?The truth is I AM overweight,? Livingston said.
?You can call me fat and yes, even obese on a doctor?s chart. To the person who wrote me that letter, do you think I don?t know that? Your cruel words are pointing out something I don?t see?
You don?t know me. You are not a friend of mine. You are not a part of my family, and you admitted that you don?t watch this show so you know nothing about me besides what you see on the outside ? and I am much more than a number on a scale.?
Livingston notes that the person who wrote the letter criticizing her weight is no better than someone who would judge someone based on the color of their skin. She also goes on to say:
?We are better than that bully. We are better than this email. We are better than the bullies that would try to take us down.?
This video touched me because of the criticism I receive on this site every day. I’ve been called just about every name in the book in some of those comments. Sometimes they’re hilarious, but I’m human and occasionally they can strike a nerve.
There are so many people that hide behind the convenience of a computer who feel they can say just about anything online…. and they do! Many of them are mean spirited individuals who only do it to feel better about themselves, but that’s still no excuse.
For the record, I could have easily remained an anonymous “ATLien” but for what? I chose to put my face AND real name out there to the public because I’m willing to stand up for my beliefs.
Hell… if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything, right?
I’ve never understood why people who disagree with me feel the need to hurl insults instead of intelligently arguing a point, but perhaps they haven’t mastered the art of communication.
*Steps off soap box*
What did you think of the anchor woman’s response to the viewer’s “criticism”?