US Meteorologist Faces Death Threats and Forced to Quit Job Over Climate Change Reporting
A US television meteorologist has revealed that he was forced to quit his job and relocate after receiving death threats for including warnings about climate change in his reports. Chris Gloninger appeared on a recent episode of Good Morning Britain to discuss the challenges he faced in reporting on the reality of global warming.
Chris explained that he had made the difficult decision to leave his TV job and move across America. He stated that it was a result of months of soul-searching and contemplating how he could continue to promote climate literacy in the country while stepping away from the public spotlight. Chris added that he had dreamed of becoming a meteorologist since second grade when his own town was hit by a hurricane.
However, Chris’s climate change reporting did not sit well with some viewers in the US, who claimed that climate change is a Biden hoax. The backlash escalated to the point where he received death threats and felt compelled to leave his job and even leave the state he was living in for his own safety.
During the interview, Chris emphasized that he was not the only one facing such threats and backlash. He mentioned that Laura Tobin, another meteorologist on Good Morning Britain, also experiences similar messages when discussing climate change. Chris emphasized that this issue extends beyond him and is a much larger problem.
Laura Tobin went on to share her own experiences with online trolling. She revealed that she and Chris are both passionate about weather and are dedicated to informing the public about more frequent and severe weather events. Despite receiving many positive comments about their climate change coverage, they also face a small number of individuals who send them offensive messages on a daily basis.
Laura explained that she chooses to read these offensive tweets to understand why people disagree with her and to respond with factual information. She stressed the importance of connecting the dots between extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and flooding, and climate change. Laura also noted that meteorologists around the world face similar abuse in online communities.
The story highlights the challenges faced by meteorologists who strive to raise awareness about climate change. It underscores the need for open and respectful dialogue about climate science in order to address the urgent issue of global warming.
