A morning news anchor used her platform to rebuff personal attacks on her weight and address the issue of bullying on Tuesday.
Jennifer Livingston, an anchor for the CBS affiliate WBKT-TV in LaCrosse, Wis., responded on-air to a letter she received from a viewer criticizing her weight.
The letter’s author said Livingston was setting a poor example for children, especially girls, by being overweight.
Livingston responded by identifying the author as a bully and urging viewers to “not let their self worth be defined by bullies.”
She was wise to use her position as a television anchor to address the issue of bullying.
Remember when Tyra Banks used her television program as a platform to refute claims that she had gained too much weight? Some people, children especially, look up to television personalities. An address by someone such as Livingston could inspire many viewers — bullying should not be tolerated.
Many of Livingston’s remarks were also praiseworthy.
For instance, she said bullying is a cycle that sometimes is perpetuated by parents, which is accurate. Parents who call their TV anchor, neighbor or co-worker “fat” are leading a bad example for their children.
A child who hears his or her parent call someone “fat” might think it’s socially acceptable to go to school the next day and call his or her classmate, teacher or principal “fat.” This attitude from parents contributes to children’s perceptions of what is acceptable behavior.
That being said, there was some important information that Livingston left out of her address Tuesday.
Livingston’s husband mentioned on Good Morning America the next day that Livingston has tried to lose wait but has a thyroid condition that makes it difficult for her to do so, according to an article on ABC Wednesday.
Why didn’t Livingston mention that in her address? Was she afraid that people would think she was making an excuse? For whatever the reason, the fact that she has tried to lose weight but physically cannot do so should have been mentioned Tuesday.
The address would have been stronger had she said exercising, while good for promoting a healthy lifestyle, isn’t always the cure.
Looking forward, it would be interesting to see how other television networks will respond to Livingston’s message if at all.
She reminds us that words sting and should be chosen more carefully, especially in the presence of impressionable children.
This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors to post archived posts from previous iterations of the site or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.
Hey..Good for you girl! I thought you gave a classy comeback and response to the insensitive dope who called you overweight….Did he send his picture to you? Lets see what he looks like!
Good for her, really? Classy? The best response would have been to ignore it. The big thing about all ofl is that wasn’t bullying and she made it to be a lot bigger than it was. You especially aren’t dealing with the situation correctly. After all, what does it matter what he looks like. That wasn’t the point.
Who’s bullying who here? The TV anchor has – and is using – her “bully pulpit.” Stop eating so much, not easy but possible, and above all STOP WHINING that not everyone likes the way you look…
O. K. the lady is overweight. No one is perfect, so lets get a notarized letter that states the lady has the right to investigate the critics life. We can look into intelligence, apperance, human quaities such as honesty and decinecy, legal history, her contributions to her community. Anyne can see where this is going. And, then be able to release the information on the lady’s T V program. Fun?
I would like to see a picture of the idiot who made the remark. I b et they have a perfect body , face and mind. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA sTAND YOUR GROUND LADY.
Its about time someone spoke up. Sometimes we adults don’t realize how our spoken word can influence the little ears that are always open around us. The bullying attitude starts at home.
Like Jennifer..I too have a thyroid problem. I have struggled for YEARS to get rid of my excess weight. If you go through my pictures, you will NEVER see me as a smaller woman, even as a child. I have been bullied and looked down upon my entire life. Even at 36 years old, there is still the occasional person who thinks because I’m overweight that I am not worth a damn. Well…to the guy who has opened his mouth….I hope you choke on your kneecap because frankly…you don’t know a damn thing about being a true caring human being! and to Jennifer…YOU GO GIRL!! YOU LOOK FANDAMNTASTIC!!!
And yes, the fact that Mr. & Mrs. Livingston self-image was hurt pretty badly by the simple truth this man conveyed, not in a destructive way but constructively doesn’t help her at all by making a small personal issue into a public view. This woman also made it sound like she is on the side of populaces being bullied and even went as far as telling people how to raise their own kid. C’mon Jennifer Livingston, the man that sent you this email is not bullying you but simply trying to help you on how you ought to look if you’re in public view almost 7/24 day. You’re insulting intelligence of general public by trying to repair your broken ego into making it sound like you’re a victim of a bully.
Regarding this article and subjedt matter: While I like and admire the reply from Ms. Livingston,
I believe we have lost track of what constitues bullying. Seems like bullying used to be a more (aggressive) and purposely hurtfull attack on an individuals physical or mental state, done repeatedly.
I don’t believe one attack constitutes (Bullying). It does certainly point to the potential bully as being an insensitve jerk.
I have had people make one time comments at me while just walking along. I refuse to let these people get under my skin. Most of these people I never saw again anyway. It just doesn’t seem worth a confrontation and a potential fight to me. “Pick you battles wisely.” As the saying goes.
I am not a public figure nor do I have a media platform to speak from, but I am guessing I would not reply to one persons inapropriate remark, as Ms. Livingston says she first thought of.
What life style and habits somebody else has is none of my business. They make thier own choices as adults and I am not going to judge them for those choices. I want to focus on personality, brains and sense of humor, not apperance.
Then there is the fact that the press will sieze on most anything for a news story, but I’m not saying this one has no merits at all. Bullying as we all know has become a huge issue. I’m just not sure what the societal and moral definitions of bullying are these days.
It’s arduous to seek out knowledgeable individuals on this topic, however you sound like you recognize what you’re talking about! Thanks