Eschewing The Fat


	Larry Fedoruk Show Blog Podcast Eschewing The Fat Posted By: Larry Fedoruk lfedoruk@astral.com · 10/5/2012 11:28:00 AM Jennifer Livingston is a morning TV news anchor and host on WKBT in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Last week she received the following email. “Hi Jennifer, It's unusual that I see your morning show, but I did so for a very short time today. I was surprised indeed to witness that your physical condition hasn't improved for many years. Surely you don't consider yourself a suitable example for this community's young people, girls in particular. Obesity is one of the worst choices a person can make and one of the most dangerous habits to maintain. I leave you this note hoping that you'll reconsider your responsibility as a local public personality to present and promote a healthy lifestyle.” Jennifer went on the air the following morning with an editorial piece which you can (and should) watch below. She admitted to being overweight by most modern standards but also felt, I think correctly so, that the email and accusations were a case of bullying. Her husband, Mike Thompson (pictured below), also an anchor at the TV station went on Facebook to defend her. Jennifer later went on the Today Show. To watch that, click here. The letter writer, a local lawyer named Kenneth W. Krause defended the note by saying in part “I hope she'll finally take advantage of a rare and golden opportunity to influence the health and psychological well-being of (the region's) children.” He offered support and advice if she would take on an on-air transformation. There is a line here between recognizing an unhealthy weight issue and keeping a healthy self-image of one's body type. North America has an obesity issue, from children on up, much of it to do with food and lifestyle choices. On the other hand, not everyone is going to slide effortlessly into skinny jeans or look like a ramp model. All kinds of people struggle with extra pounds and they should not be bullied or publicly humiliated or personally attacked for that matter. Good for Jennifer for standing up for herself. As she said herself, do you think she doesn't know she has a few extra pounds? What started out as a misguided message on obesity has turned into a valuable lesson on bullying. LEAVE COMMENTS. For other Larry Fedoruk blogs and features, click here. Here's her editorial video. Share This Larry Fedoruk Loading Leave a comment: showing all comments · Subscribe to comments Comment Like 11 1 Loading Cancel Reset Password Simply confirm your registered email address below and click "Reset Password." We will immediately email you a link back to the site where you can enter a new password for this account. Account E-mail: Becoming a member only takes 60 seconds! Members get access to exclusive information and products that non-members do not, including trips, advance notice on upcoming entertainment events, movie screening passes, special giveaways and more! Account E-mail: Password (Case Sensitive): Reset your password Login with Facebook We've found your existing CKTB e-club account. Please login below to complete the Facebook login process. E-mail Address: email@address.com Password The password you have entered is incorrect. Please try again. If you're unable to remember it, you can reset your password. Not a member yet? Sign up now! Adam posted on 10/04/2012 11:12 AM I have to disagree with you, Larry. This whole situation blows me away. First and foremost, this was a private email. People act like this is a case of public bullying and humiliation, but she's the one who didn't just click delete. Her husband posted the email online, she went on tv to fight about it. She's the one who made this a public ordeal, not Kenneth. Second, Jennifer has tried to turn this into a case of bullying, and after that bus monitor, she has to know that pulling out the 'bullying' card is doing to elicit torrents of sympathy. She's in the media, she knows how this works. And boy, did it work. Kenneth's only fault was not minding his own business, but to call this 'bullying' is ludicrous. His email was, at worst, slightly pointed in its wording. It was calm, mature, didn't actually insult her, and frankly, was correct. I'm 25. Not too long ago, I was in college. I can totally understand "mother of god, I have enough money to eat out every day for the rest of my life?! PARTY AT COLONEL SANDERS' HOUSE!" and the next thing you know even your old shoes don't fit. People go up and down the scale, that's fine. But, if Kenneth is correct, Jennifer has been up there on the scale for years. It's more or less socially acceptable to chew out smokers. Why is it not okay to do it for obese people? It's not okay to be obese. I'm sorry, it's just not. I'm not talking about the ten or even fifteen pounds that some of us are constantly fighting, because we sit at our desks until 7 pm and then go to McDonald's on the ride home because we don't have the time or energy to cook. That's not what Jennifer is. I'm sure there are legitimate medical conditions for some of these cases, but in general, I have to believe that Jennifer isn't exactly a woman who skips dessert. And that's just not okay, I'm sorry, not when you're her size. Kenneth's email wasn't even insensitive. Was Jennifer never in high school? She'd get more insensitive words on the subject from her doctor. Jennifer claims she knows she has a problem, but I have to believe she's not doing anything about it. And honestly, such people need to get a good kick in the pants to stay under 2000 calories a day. I know I did. Now, I know people will way "what gives Kenneth the right to preach these things to people?". Nothing, I realize that. But either nobody in her family is doing it, or if they are, she's not listening. I suppose it is her right to kill herself, but I consider that a downright childish argument. In closing, Kenneth's only "fault" was preaching to someone who didn't ask. But he didn't go public, he didn't humiliate her. She went on television and did that herself. She could have just clicked Delete, but instead, she clicked Forward, and put the world into the address bar. 1 1 hide replies · reply· like· report JoG posted on 10/04/2012 01:20 PM @Adam "First and foremost, this was a private email. People act like this is a case of public bullying and humiliation, but she's the one who didn't just click delete" Why do pple always resort to that answer "click delete", thats a cop out. Why couldn't she stand up for herself? Private or not, he attacked her weight, but if you had seen any interviews with her, you would know it was the weight issue that she got upset about, it was the part where Kenneth said she was a bad role model. So untrue. His email wasn't just rude, it was condescending. It was uncalled for, he was bored one day and thought hey, even tho she didn't ask for it, i'll give her my opinion on her weight" I don't believe for one second, that he had good intentions. He just put it in a form where it makes him look "good". "It's more or less socially acceptable to chew out smokers. Why is it not okay to do it for obese people? It's not okay to be obese. I'm sorry, it's just not." Wow...you are comparing smokers to obese pple? Chewing out smokers is attacking their HABIT. Chewing out obese pple you are attacking them PERSONALLY and on their appearance, which can and will lead to other issues emotionally. And smokers exhale smoke that can be dangerous to others, obesity isn't dangerous to others, only to that person who is obese. There is a difference. Being obese is NOT a choice, don't make it sound like it is.. She's not allowed to have a bowl of ice cream cause of her size, but its ok for you to have one because your thin? Wow that is bs..do you know for sure she doesn't skip it? and if she chooses to eat dessert do you know for sure its fattening desert? You are aware that there are desserts that have no fat, etc right? Why do you believe she isn't doing anything about it? Your making a lot of assumptions here and you do know what they say when you assume, right? You don't know her, nor do I so don't assume just to try to prove whatever point your trying to make. It's not easy to lose weight, if you do, then your naive. Some people can eat as healthy as they can and still can't lose the weight, so should they be ridiculed for it? NO I'm not saying it healthy or that its a great thing to be obese, i'm not (tho there have been research done that not all obese pple are unhealthy), i'm just so sick of the ignorance of pple and the assumptions. Think some pple need to get off their high horse and see it from their eyes. They have feelings and emotions like you and i, that get hurt when ridiculed that a lot of them may not be able to control. Whatever happened to acceptance? Does that not exist anymore? reply· like· report Loading Larry Fedoruk posted on 10/04/2012 11:28 AM Adam, Good points and well taken. Perhaps I wasn't clear, but she was more upset at being called a poor role model than overweight. We in media get critical emails all the time and most are kept private. However when someone sends me something I consider a personal attack, I have no problem calling them on it publicly and showing them up as bullies. 2 3 hide replies · reply· like· report JoG posted on 10/04/2012 01:22 PM @Larry Fedoruk Totally agree with your article. The email to me was condescending and, even tho well written, he was bullying her. The man refused to go on air and to be interviewed but sent in a follow up email. that man is a coward, guess its easier to hide behind a name then showing the whole world his face. reply· like· report Adam posted on 10/04/2012 07:43 PM @Larry Fedoruk Well that's fair. I believe she has daughters, and if she does, it certainly must have stung more than anything to be told she's not a positive role model for young women. But honestly, was Kenneth wrong? I'm sure Jennifer is a fantastic woman and parent in near every area. But in the case of diet and health, no, being that size is not being a positive role model, if you ask me. And besides, if Kenneth was truly trying to "bully" her, he could have said far, far worse things. In his own unsolicited, misguided way, I do believe he was trying to change her for the better. His only mistake, in my opinion, is the fact that he even tried when nobody asked him to. reply· like· report Loading RemiM_6007 posted on 10/04/2012 01:58 PM @ Adam: Who do you think you are? Tom McConnell? Do you actually believe what you wrote, or are you just throwing controversial comments out there to see what people's reactions will be? As for myself, as Jennifer said, he's not her fan, friend, or family, and as such any comments or "advice" are unsolicited and unwelcome and designed to make her feel bad about herself. How ever you whitewash it, its bullying. Whether it's in the public domain or said in private, I'm sure you would not appreciate being on the receiving end of such bullsht! 4 1 hide replies · reply· like· report Adam posted on 10/04/2012 07:38 PM @RemiM_6007 I remind you of Tom McConnell? I suspect this wasn't a compliment, but I take it as one. Thank you. But to the issue: Yes, I agree, Kenneth had no right to preach health to someone who didn't ask, let alone call into question how positive a role model she is to young women. She has daughters, I believe, so I can see just how much that comment must have stung. But it was not bullying. Bullying would be to ridicule her publicly, either in Wisconsin where people know her, or on the internet. If Kenneth wanted to ridicule her, he'd have simply called her "a fat slob who should have her children given to someone they'll outlive." I do NOT believe such horrible words, keep in mind, that was just an example of what actual bullying is. Kenneth's words hurt because they were unsolicited, and because, frankly, the truth hurts. Jennifer may be a fantastic person. I have no doubt she's a terrific mother who gives more than anyone can expect to ensure her children are healthy and happy. But the simple fact is that being her size is NOT indicative of a positive role model, at least in the area of diet and health. Saying this fact is not bullying. What, anytime someone tells you something you don't like, they're bullying you? That's ridiculous. It may have been hurtful to hear, and it certainly was unwarranted from an unsolicited stranger, but this kind of unsolicited criticism comes with the territory of being in the public eye. There are countless far worse, far more horrible things that Kenneth could have said, if he wanted to bully her. He may have been misguided, but I truly believe he was trying to be the catalyst for positive change in her life. And I think we can all agree that, yes, when you're her size, losing weight is a positive change. Not for image, not for vanity, but for living to see 40. reply· like· report Tom McConnell posted on 10/04/2012 08:22 PM @RemiM_6007 Remi - can you show me the comments I don't believe in or what ones I wrote just to be controversial? Feel free to use the whole website. I hope you don't construe this as bullying. Thanks, Tom. reply· like· report show more replies Loading Larry Fedoruk posted on 10/04/2012 07:50 PM Adam, Remi, Jo....really enjoying the commentary and points of view. reply· like· report Loading showing all comments Comment Like Please fill in the CAPTCHA below to like this content anonymously. x Submit x Reset Password Simply confirm your registered email address below and click "Reset Password." We will immediately email you a link back to the site where you can enter a new password for this account. Account E-mail: Please enter your email and password to log in. 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