TV anchor responds to bully's weight critique on air

Instead of letting a bully's harsh words about her weight bring her down, WKBT-TV news anchor Jennifer Livingston decided to speak up.

In an editorial for CBS affiliate WKBT-TV in La Crosse, Wisc., Livingston read the cruel letter that blamed the anchor for her lack of "community responsibility" because she was obese.

"Obesity is one of the worst choices a person can make and one of the most dangerous habits to maintain," the sender 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."

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Livingston admitted she tried her best to "laugh off the very hurtful attack on my appearance," but her colleagues - including her husband and fellow WKBT-TV anchor Mike Thompson -- were outraged. Thompson posted the letter on his Facebook page, and hundreds commented to show support and pledge to help stop bullying attacks like this.

"The truth is I am overweight," Livingston said during the broadcast. "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 then used the incident to remind people that many others, especially children, are bullied every day, and it needs to be stopped.

Livingston's statement against bullying comes during October's National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. The PACER Center, an organization funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs, started the campaign in 2006 to bring awareness to the issue and encourage everyone to actively do their part to end bullying.

Bullying can consist of verbal, social and/or physical abuse by a person who uses their power to belittle their peers over a period of time, according to StopBullying.gov. The 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20 percent of high school students have experienced bullying. Likewise, the 2008-2009 School Crime supplement by the National Center for Education found that 28 percent of students in grades 6 through 12 had been bullied.

Children who are often different from their peers including those who are overweight or underweight, those who seem weak and those who are depressed or anxious are more likely to abused. Other factors, such as being an LGBT teen or a youth or having a disability may also increase the chance of being bullied. A recent study published in September 2012 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine showed that about half of children with autism are bulled.

In addition to local events around the country, PACER and their partners are encouraging people to sign a digital "The End of Bullying Begins With Me" petition and participate in a Unity Day. On Oct. 10, people are asked to wear orange to support students who have been bullied.

To learn more about bullying and what you can do to prevent it, visit StopBullying.gov.

[1Purpose]

This anchor Livingston needs to be prosecuted. Clearly the email was sent from a format of person to person, and just because she has mass access to the media, Livingston used her "professional platform", as a "personal vendetta" to respond with. No one is mentioning that she used her position as an on-air media representative that reached far more persons to take her position as a "newscaster", in a very "inappropriate way". What she did is reflective of a "true bully" if she wants to state it that way. Just because (livingston) had access to the "tools of the forum", does not make it "appropriate" to use this form of media to respond. Where are the "statutes" for this form of "serious abuse" of journalistic power? If Mr. Krause had used the same form of communication in this matter, someone somewhere would be raving for his head right now. I would dare say that there would be many one sided feminist groups calling for his "firing" with an immediate dismissal and civil action following promptly. But this never came up, when Jennifer used the "ploy of bullying" in her so called defense of "woman's right". It would be nice if someone would get a clue and address the real injustice of using a professional platform for personal gain.

[Stunned2]

So, let me get this straight. A PRIVATE email sent to someone telling them what you think of them is now classified as bullying. So, (as of yet)you can have an opinion about someone, just don't tell them what it is. PATHETIC.

[Wisdom_of_Solomon]

The problem with bullies is that they often do not see their behavior as bullying.

That being said, the rest of us can easily pick out the bullies on this thread.

[Wisdom_of_Solomon]

I would like to point out one fact about this "fat" news anchor and her health condition: she has a thyroid condition.

Now don't you all feel just a little bit foolish?

[crabtreegirl]

Hmmm, I wonder about those who had negative comments about this woman. I wonder what kind of role models they themselves are for their children. Do they smoke around their kids? Do they use bad language? How do they speak to their children? What things on television and video games do they entertain themselves with? People like to point what others do that they don't like, but they rarely take a look at themselves.

[fredsmith1991]

Has anyone considered the fact that cholesterol, body shape and size, weight, blood pressure, hair loss are all genetically defined? Yes, you can try to lose weight, eat healthy, exercise, etc but many times it just isn't enough. So the idea that someone completely unfamiliar with the situation, tells a person that choosing obesity is a bad choice, needs to be taught some manners. I will admit the letter was well written. I would like to see a picture of the letter writer. Are they bald? If so, that's a bad choice and they should get hair implants. Do they have false teeth? That's a bad choice, they should have flossed and brushed regularly. See, lots of bad choices. And I know as much about the letter writer as they did about the news anchor.

[The_Truth24-7]

but genetics doesn't make people eat themselves to death either. Why can't people take responsibility for their actions instead of trying to find something else to blame it on? Welcome to the new world!!

[Naynaynono]

You cannot look at some one and judge their health! Look at the female Olympic weight lifter Sarah Robles. She is extremely healthy but certainly would be off the charts for her weight. We spend too much time judging others! We need to try to be better today than we were yesterday. Why are people so mean? Remember Thumper from Bambi? If you can't say something nice then don't say anything at all!

[The_Truth24-7]

For one, just because you hear something that hurts your feelings, doesn't make it bullying. It means that what the other person is saying is the truth, and you agree with it, or it wouldnt hurt. Honestly i believe this woman is jealous of the fact that her husband is more successful than she is and copes with it by eating. Which in turn just hurts her more. But honestly trying to turn this into a BULLYING issue is way off base, and aan abuse of power, since her and her husband are both news anchors they should both be removed from their jobs for reporting a false story, and taking away from the real news, while also making a joke out of the seriousness of bullying. So as a recap if hearing about how you need to lose weight offends you then it is more than likely true, and you agree. That is NOT being bullied and she should be made to file a formal appology on the air for wasting the time of everyone watching., Or formal charges should be filed for filing a false report.
Thank You and Have a Great Day

[Chiperoni]

This woman is fat and unhealthy its time to wake up America...we eat too much!

[cntrygirl3]

How do you know she is unhealthy? For all you know she may exercise daily, she may have "perfect" cholesterol, a strong heart and because of her weight she definitely has strong bones. She most likely eats far less and probably a good deal better than many of her skinny colleagues. You are commenting based on outside appearance, you don't know her anymore than the letter writer does nor do you know what problems she may have. Judging people by their appearance be it size, color or gender is flat wrong. Having said that we do eat unwisely whether it is the what or how much or a combination of both.

[Wisdom_of_Solomon]

Another fact: she is an avid runner and has been known to run in 5K events for charity. It is her thyroid condition that gives her problems with her weight. Yes I am acquainted with her and others have enlightened me more to her situation.

[videorov]

She is over weight and should care and do something about it for her kids.

[Jovin43]

I give this lady loads of credit for taking such a public stand on this very personal attack on her. I hope others will learn from her statements that you CAN be different from others in various ways and still be worthy of respect!