Have you ever been bullied?
It’s not uncommon, in fact it’s alarming how often bullying occurs. Near 160,000 teens do not attend classes every day simply because of a bully, according to the National Education Association. But bullying occurs on all kinds of social levels from adolescence to adulthood.
On October 2, 2012 a La Crosse, Wisconsin WKBT News 8 This Morning anchor publicly defended herself against a hurtful email she received from a viewer. The anchor was Jennifer Livingston, and the viewer was Kenneth Krause: a not-so-frequent viewer with a thought on his mind.
Krause wrote Livingston that he hoped she didn’t believe she was a fit role model for the young adults of La Crosse, Wisconsin. “Obesity is one of the worst choices a person can make and one of the most dangerous habits to maintain,” he wrote in his email.
Livingston intended not to respond, until her husband a news anchor on the channel, posted the letter publicly on his Facebook page and received a startling amount of responses. This prompted Livingston to take a moment in her show to respond to her bully and bullies everywhere.
Two years later, the video continues its circulation across social media platforms, offering words or inspiration, encouragement and strength to people everywhere to stand up to their bullies.
About the Author
Claire Roney is currently a sophomore at Arizona State University and Barrett, The Honors College. She is studying broadcast journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication for her bachelor's and master's degree in an accelerated 4 year program. As a young female writer, she is passionate about supporting women's success in male-dominated industries.