*Weather Channel Meteorologist Jen Delgado is feeling the wrath of social media users who are blasting the reporter for blaming Haiti’s deforestation in part to hungry children eating trees. With many now calling for her termination, Delgado has offered up an apology to save her job.
In a weather report about Hurricane Matthew preparing to hit Haiti hard, Delgado noted that the country suffers from a deforestation problem.
“They take all the trees down, they burn the trees,” and she continued with a curious claim, “Even the kids there, they’re so hungry, they actually eat the trees.”
Check out some of the reactions to her ignorant comment below.
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@JenDelgadoTWC did you really say that kids in Haiti eat trees? Stop spreading lies and false information.
— . (@theDRoweshow) October 4, 2016
Damn, I missed it…now I hear people R so poor in #Haiti that they eat TREES! @weatherchannel Jen Delgado #girlbye PROVE IT b4 U report it!
— Ethan José (@blackimportance) October 4, 2016
It is disgusting that in 2016 #theweatherchannel can have uneducated people like @JenDelgadoTWC… https://t.co/TTUMUU4V9Z
— Mia Lopez (@MiaLopezHTC) October 4, 2016
According to @JenDelgadoTWC #Haiti‘s deforestation is a result of children eating the trees. U hear me. #Ignorance in its fullness #Matthew
— ChangingHaiti (@ChangingHaiti) October 4, 2016
Haiti’s well documented deforestation problem is actually caused by citizens chopping down trees to use for charcoal, the island’s primary choice for fuel, wlrn.org reports.
Former Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe posted the Weather Channel clip on Facebook writing, “Shame on you!! Jennifer Delgado and #Weather #Channel. Deeply disturbed by your reporting that Haitian children are eating trees! Where did you get this #info?”
Raw Story notes how Weather Channel CEO David Clark apologized after being contacted by a viewer.
“We are terribly sorry for an on air error and are taking measures to correct it,” Clark wrote. “It should not have happened period.”
Delgado also issued an on-air apology, saying: “I want to begin by apologizing for a statement I made yesterday that was found inappropriate,” she said. “My intention is always to inform and educate.”
Some say her apology is not enough.
Your thoughts?
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