When your job involves frequently being in front of a camera, you’re bound to get judgmental comments. Folks like Canadian news anchor Leslie Horton understand this well. She’s no stranger to receiving negative comments. Still, a recent email was different. In a video shared on social media, this news anchor responds to being fat-shamed.
But Leslie didn’t just respond on social media — she addressed it during a live broadcast. In doing so, she reminds viewers that there are simply some things you should never say to a person. Period.
![News anchor Leslie Horton talks with her hands as she responds to being fat shamed in an email.](https://www.inspiremore.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/anchor-responds-fat-shamed-2.png)
“Congratulations on your pregnancy,” the bully’s email reads. “If you’re going to wear old bus driver pants, you can expect emails like this.”
First, Leslie makes note of the fact that she’s not pregnant. In fact, she lost her uterus to cancer just last year.
News Anchor Responds to Being Fat-Shamed
“This is what women my age look like,” Leslie says. “So, if it is offensive to you, that is unfortunate. Think about the emails that you send.”
Although news anchors typically don’t respond to folks like the person who sent this email, it’s clearly what Leslie needed to do for herself. Plus, it’s been helpful for others to see someone like Leslie stand up for themselves.
If you're heading out for a picnic today but don't have a blanket, you can borrow my pants! #PicnicPants 😁😄 pic.twitter.com/8ks4JIEbmT
— Leslie Horton (@global_leslie) June 28, 2023
“He’s reached out several times over the years, and his intent is always to humiliate and hurt me,” Leslie says. “We’re not supposed to respond to trolls — so I had no plans to address it, but then the words just came out of my mouth. I had this visceral reaction.”
Our words matter. The bully who sent Leslie that email used his words to tear someone down. Leslie, on the other hand, used her words to not only defend herself but to remind others of the importance of being kind. When given the choice, always choose to be more like Leslie.
Watch when this news anchor perfectly responds to being fat shamed in the video below.
@todayshow Moments before going live on Nov. 29, Canadian news anchor Leslie Horton received an email from a viewer, who had watched her traffic report earlier that morning. The message read: “Congratulations on your pregnancy. If you’re going to wear old bus driver pants, you can expect emails like this.” Horton, 59, was familiar with the sender. “He’s reached out several times over the years, and his intent is always to humiliate and hurt me,” Horton, a broadcaster for Global News Calgary, tells TODAY.com. “We’re not supposed to respond to trolls — so I had no plans to address it, but then the words just came out of my mouth. I had this visceral reaction.” 📹: Global News Calgary
♬ original sound – TODAY Show
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