A pregnant meteorologist gave the ultimate response to a critic who sent a nasty message about her ‘tight-fitting’ outfits during a TV presentation.
Claire Anderson, a veteran weathercaster at Fox13 News who is currently eight months pregnant, shared an email sent to her earlier this month that was filled with nitpicks and disapproval over a dress.
But the viewer’s comments didn’t sit well with Anderson, who joked in a TikTok video: “That’s exactly what happens when you have a kid.”
In the email, the disgruntled viewer named Kathy begged, “Please, please, put away the form-fitting dresses until after the baby.
‘Your mommy belly has gotten so big that your overall appearance is distracting from your presentation. Something loose and flowing would be best.”
While the self-described “do-gooder” complimented Anderson’s work, calling it “some of the best presentations on TV,” she claimed it needed “the viewers’ undistracted attention.”
During her short response video, Anderson showed viewers a photo of the cream-colored outfit she had been wearing during her broadcast from the day she received the email.
In the voiceover, Anderson added, “Remember, we’re not supposed to comment on how women wear and look, especially when we’re pregnant.”
Claire Anderson, a veteran weathercaster at Fox13 News who is currently eight months pregnant, shared an email sent to her earlier this month that was filled with nitpicks and disapproval over a dress in a TikTok video
Viewers quickly rallied to show their support for Anderson and encouraged her to continue dressing the way she wanted.
‘Respectfully (or perhaps not) disagree with her. Show that bump!!! congratulations!!,” one viewer cheered.
While another said: ‘I love love when women wear their baby bumps loud and proud!!!’
‘My mother always makes judgmental comments about pregnant women who wear tight clothes. I think it’s a generational thing, but I think baby bumps should be shown,” a viewer also commented.
Another shared his own situation, saying, “I saw this while on vacation in the Dominican Republic, seven months pregnant, and chilling in a two-piece bikini by the pool.”
‘When I was pregnant, it was the first time I felt really comfortable and confident wearing form-fitting clothes. I liked showing the belly. Keep up the good work, you look great!,” encouraged another.
While another also joined in, saying: ‘Go on and rock the bump mama! Being pregnant is beautiful and doesn’t take anything away from you as a professional.’
Although the email wasn’t Anderson’s first experience with harsh critics over her physical appearance as an on-air meteorologist.
During the short video, she showed TikTokers a photo of the cream-colored bodycon outfit she had worn during her broadcast from the day she received the email
The weather woman told me TODAY.com that unlike conventional newscasters, her entire body is on display when she presents her segment and is therefore fully visible to the audience.
‘You want people to look at the map, but they look at your body. And unfortunately that’s just part of the game. But it doesn’t make it any easier,” she says.
She also told the outlet that she was initially “nervous” about sharing news of her pregnancy, fearing critical comments about her changing body.
‘For every 99% of happiness, there will always be that one person who has something to say. And unfortunately, those are the ones that remain (in your mind).”
Additionally, Anderson revealed that after receiving the email, she went to her friends disappointed.
But instead, they encouraged her to make a video and hit back at the critic. Ultimately, she decided to talk about the email to open up the conversation around “women supporting women.”
“It’s 2024, women support women, and yet we still get the nastiest emails from women,” she says, adding that the majority of emails critical of her appearance come from older women.
Anderson, who recently completed 12 years in the TV broadcasting industry, married husband Garret Verhoff in September 2023
“My message was something like, ‘Guys, remember, we’re in a time, on the ground, in the world, where we don’t have to comment on someone’s body unless you think it looks great.’
“Unless someone asks you what they look like, we don’t have to comment.” Especially in this day and age, fertility and being pregnant, people are open about it.
‘We don’t know how long it took for me to get pregnant? How hard was it? Was it emotional? Was it difficult for you? Are you having a good pregnancy? Are you having a hard time?
‘I don’t change who I am just because I’m pregnant and having a child.
“We are in a time where we are healthy. We can have children and we can work full time. We are professional women, and we can be sexy, we can look good.
“Just because we’re pregnant doesn’t mean we have to put on more shabby clothes.”
Anderson, who recently celebrated 12 years in the TV broadcasting industry, married husband Garret Verhoff in September 2023.