TV News Anchor Takes on Internet Bully

If there’s one thing you watch today, this one should be it. La Crosse, Wisconsin CBS WKBT TV news anchor Jennifer Livingston received a nasty viewer e-mail about her weight, taking her to task for being a poor example for her community, especially girls. 

Plus: Girl Pranked by Bullies on Homecoming

While she could have tried to forget the embarrassing e-mail ever happened, instead Livington, a mom of three daughters, faced it head-on with humility and courage, and turned it into an opportunity to offer encouragement. While acknowledging that she is indeed overweight, and that the e-mail was hurtful, she then shifted the focus to the more devastating bullying kids face every day, behavior that is learned from adults.

“This behavior is learned. It is passed down from people like the man who wrote me that e-mail. If you were at home talking about the fat news lady--guess what? Your children are probably going to go to school and call someone fat. We need to teach our kids how to be kind, not critical, and we need to do that by example.

“To all the children out there who feel lost, who are struggling with your weight, the color of your skin, your sexual preference, your disability--even the acne on your face, listen to me right now: Do not let your self worth be defined by bullies.”

Plus: Meet the Bully Buster

Were you cheering Jennifer Livingson on like we were? Will you watch this video with your kids? Leave a comment.