Advertisement

Pregnant B.C. TV meteorologist calls out the bullies for fat shaming

Pregnant B.C. TV meteorologist calls out the bullies for fat shaming

Sometimes, people suck. That’s not news.

But a British Columbia meteorologist has sparked a revolt against the haters by speaking out on Global BC’s newscast about rude emails she’s received as she continues her full-time job on-air through her second pregnancy.

Kristi Gordon is six months pregnant. She has a three-year-old at home. She works full-time.

Contrary to popular belief, she has no makeup person, stylist or personal shopper.

As any TV personality can attest, a small number of critical emails, calls and letters come from members of the public. But a handwritten letter sent this week prompted Gordon to address the issue on-air.

“It was so hateful,” Gordon tells Yahoo Canada News.

At the outset of her second pregnancy, the meteorologist appealed to viewers to “be nice.” She’d been through on-air changes in her appearance before.

Some sad, angry people struggle with nice.

The letter, sent to “Globel,” called the mom-to-be “gross” and said the viewers had changed the channel.

"Your front end looks like the Hindenburg, and your rear end looks like a brick (bleeping) house,” it said.

At first, Gordon says the letter didn’t bother her.

“I brushed it off, we had a good laugh about it. But then it wasn’t until that night when I was in bed that the letter had kicked off thoughts in my head,” she says.

“I thought, I can’t believe I let this letter get to me.”

Overall, viewers have been very supportive but the message from a small number is clear.

“Cover-up, basically. You shouldn’t be showing that bump,” Gordon says.

She decided to take it on-air.

There’s been an outpouring of support for Gordon on social media. The story has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter, and spawned more than 300 comments on the station website.

“One of the classiest women in television. Thank you Kristi Gordon for your eloquence,” Lisa Taron wrote on Twitter.

“This is just disgusting bullying, awful,” wrote Scott Robarts.

“You look amazing, show off that bump with pride!!! Those letter writing cowards need to get a life!” tweeted Erin Osborne.

Gordon, who admits to being a little embarrassed by the attention she’s getting, says the reaction has been incredible.

“I do appreciate everyone’s emails letting me know that I look nice but I’m not really affected,” she says. “My point was that … you have to remember when you are being mean to people, even if you’re just joking, it soaks in just a little bit. I was amazed that it did that to me.”