Chiefs fans crush KSHB-TV for cutting Patrick Mahomes’ Derby call for weather update
It’s unusual for Chiefs fans to get upset in May since the football season is, you know, from September to February.
But there were some furious fans who tuned to KSHB-TV (Ch. 41) just to watch Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes give the ceremonial “Riders Up!” call at the Kentucky Derby.
If you missed it, here is how Mahomes did.
An MVP call for for Riders Up by @PatrickMahomes pic.twitter.com/avehSvd2SQ
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 6, 2023
Unfortunately for viewers in Kansas City, they didn’t get to see all of Mahomes’ call. That’s because KSHB cut away to a weather update about a tornado warning in counties on the Missouri-Iowa border.
This is what viewers in KC saw.
Here's the local version pic.twitter.com/CBA5mGpvNS
— Ben (@benta_sony) May 6, 2023
Mahomes fans rained down harsh words on KSHB, which posted video of the missed moment on its social media.
A few minutes later, meteorologist Wes Peery retweeted an angry tweet from Twitter user @tacosalazar and apologized.
“Sorry everyone, didn’t know it was happening at that minute!” Peery wrote.
But that didn’t stop people from tweeting complaints as scathing as @tacosalazar’s, which said: “@WesWeather just became the most hated weatherman in KC history. Interrupted @PatrickMahomes doing his riders up speech. Sad! #KentuckyDerby.”
.@WesWeather just became the most hated weatherman in KC history. Interrupted @PatrickMahomes doing his riders up speech. Sad! #KentuckyDerby
— (@TacoSalazar) May 6, 2023
Here is what other fans were saying about KSHB’s decision to cut away from Mahomes at the Kentucky Derby, starting with former Chiefs wide receiver Marc Boerigter.
Wes Peery about to become the early 2000’s Katie Horner for sports fans. IYKYK
— Marc Boerigter (@mboerigter) May 6, 2023
You guys really screwed this up. Viewers in Kansas City waited all day for this!
— Jodi Livengood (@jodirlivengood) May 6, 2023
@KSHB41 yeah too bad those of us in Kansas City couldn't hear it cuz they cut in for a damn tornado warning they couldn't wait another half damn second?
— Renee Windsor (@RenEWin24) May 6, 2023
Know your audience, @KSHB41. Trust us. We will be fine without that weather alert cutting in.
— The Page KC (@ThePageKC) May 6, 2023
Are you kidding me channel 41? Are you serious? 83 miles away?
— Slappy (@pauliedkc) May 6, 2023
Let the St Joe station handle the weather warning. Not impacting KC for goodness sakes. Get off the air you weather ding dong.
— Gary McDaniel (@GaryMcD39710319) May 6, 2023
KSHB had to wait until Mahomes was speaking to break in. Great work, guys.
— Linda Bruce (@LindaBr23874831) May 6, 2023
“Are you kidding me @KSHB41???? Rushed home to hear @PatrickMahomes do RIDERS UP at the Derby and you interrupt him with a weather announcement in northern Missouri??? Your station should be embarrassed …so disappointed!!!” tweeted @KCRevive85.
Among the anger there was some sympathy for the station and thanks from people who said people’s lives come first.
“He did his job. Life > Sports,” tweeted Mike Peck.
He did his job. Life > Sports.
— Mike Peck (@mdpeck) May 6, 2023
Thank you @WesWeather for putting lives above Mahomes' 'Riders Up' Derby announcement. Many people being critical don't understand how weather relays can save lives. I'm sure Mahomes would want lives put first. ️ CJ, trained spotter, NWS. pic.twitter.com/x92L5Dh3YT
— Connie Jo (@cjkc_life09) May 7, 2023
These people really have no deceny for anyone they don't deem "important." Patrick Mahomes is far less important than a tornado warning.
— Keston Oltman (@KO_12_14) May 7, 2023
“You could tell by the way the weatherman paused that y’all knew you messed up. Smh,” tweeted @lexiosborne.
Katie Nickolaou, a TV meteorologist in Lansing, Michigan, chastised football fans in tornado country for complaining.
“It’s depressing to see so many people care so little for other people’s lives… Tornado warnings will always take priority If you wanted to watch the Mahomes derby clip you could find it on Twitter less than a minute after it happened,” she tweeted.
It’s depressing to see so many people care so little for other people’s lives…
Tornado warnings will always take priority
If you wanted to watch the Mahomes derby clip you could find it on Twitter less than a minute after it happened. pic.twitter.com/7SWOyz09Cp— Meteorologist Katie Nickolaou (@weather_katie) May 7, 2023
People left dozens of angry comments on the station’s Facebook page, too.