Ron says he always looks up to his sister, WKBT News 8 anchor Jennifer Livingston, due to her 'exceptional dedication to her job, her family, and her community.'
- Oct 4, 2012
AceShowbiz - Ron Livingston came to her sister's defense following criticism of her weight. A male viewer said Jennifer Livingston, who works as a WKBT News 8 anchor, was not a good role model due to her obesity, but the "Game Change" actor begged to differ.
"My sister Jennifer ... brings an exceptional dedication to her job, her family, and her community," the 45-year-old actor said in a statement on Wednesday, October 3. He added, "[She] has been a role model of mine for many, many years."
It was Kenneth W. Krause who wrote the letter to criticize Jennifer's plus-size appearance. "It's unusual that I see your morning show, but I did so for a very short time today," he said. "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."
He continued, "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 initially planned to just shrug off the comment, but her husband Mike Thompson who's also WKBT news anchor posted it on Facebook. "Seriously, the fact that there are people out there like this (and I understand this person is a lawyer in town) makes me sick to my stomach," an upset Mike fired back at Kenneth.
Jennifer then decided to address the issue on air. "The truth is, I am overweight," she said. "You could call me fat, even obese, on a doctor's chart. But, to the person who wrote me that letter, do you think I don't know that? That your cruel words are pointing out something I don't see?"
"You don't know me. You are not a friend of mine, you are not a part of my family and you have admitted that you don't watch this show, so you know nothing about me but what you see on the outside. And I am much more than a number on a scale."
Many called what Kenneth did bullying, but David Dickson, the chairman of Bullying Prevention Initiative of California, said it was not. "Bullying, normally, is what someone, in a very mean spirited way, continually and on a repeated basis, does to another person, typically in a social setting in front of other people...It was a stupid letter he wrote, but he commented privately," he explained.
