In Los Angeles, for instance, a meteorologist’s choice of clothing has created what has been termed “an Internet firestorm.” It’s a controversy so significant it’s been given the name #sweatergate.
In case you missed it, the controversy involves Liberte Chan, a meteorologist at KTLA, who delivered last Saturday morning’s forecast for the Los Angeles area wearing a black sequined cocktail dress from Aidan Mattox. Viewers apparently were so shocked by the sight of a woman wearing a dress on television that exposed her shoulders they reportedly flooded the station with outraged emails.
Fortunately, news anchor Chris Burrous rushed onto the set and handed Ms. Chan a long gray sweater, which he just happened to have handy, so she could continue her report decently.
But the incident quickly generated an outpouring of social network controversy, with charges of body-shaming, sexism, double-standardism and all-around male stupidism. Not to mention countless views of the video which, purely in the interest of journalistic insight, you can view at http://www.people.com/article/meteorologist-cover-up-liberte-chan-ktla
All of which clearly was an embarrassment to the television station, happening as it did during a ratings period known as “sweeps.” In fact, the station hadn’t been so embarrassed since earlier this year, when Ms. Chan delivered her forecast wearing a light blue Lilly Pulitzer sheath that seemed to disappear when she stood in front of a “green screen.” For even deeper journalistic insight, check out https://www.yahoo.com/tv/weather-woman-has-unusual-wardrobe-malfunction-191907396.html
In an amazing coincidence, Ms. Chan was “saved from embarrassment” that time when news anchor Chris Burrous rushed to her side and covered her upper body with his suit coat. That incident occurred on Feb. 26 which — in an even more amazing coincidence — happened to fall in a ratings period known as “sweeps.”
Far be it from me to dampen a perfectly-good firestorm by suggesting there might be any connection between Ms. Chan’s wardrobe problems and KTLA’s ratings. Still, it might be interesting to see what she’ll be wearing in July.
That’s the next ratings period known as “sweeps.”
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