Anchor Called Too Fat is a Global Role Model

By Laura T. Coffey, TODAY

Credit: TODAY

Wisconsin news anchor Jennifer Livingston made headlines around the world in October when she spoke out on camera to a viewer who said she was setting a bad example for her community because of her weight.

December 28, 2012 Updated Dec 28, 2012 at 5:12 PM PDT

Jennifer Livingston never imagined she’d be the subject of school lesson plans. She never expected to see her words emblazoned on pins and T-shirts. She never thought she’d receive heartfelt messages from children in other countries seeking her advice about how to deal with bullies.

But that is her new reality. The Wisconsin news anchor sparked a viral firestorm in October when she stood up for herself on camera after a viewer criticized her weight and called her a bad example for her community. Almost three months have passed since then, and Livingston is still hearing from kids and adults who view her as a much-needed hero in the anti-bullying crusade.

“I didn’t think I was doing anything that was extraordinary — I really, truly didn’t,” Livingston said when TODAY.com caught up with her at the close of 2012. “I’m overweight, and it doesn't bother me necessarily that people point that out.

There is much more to this story from NBC News, to read about it CLICK HERE.

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