Meteorologist Liberte Chan Asked to Cover Up During Live Report

They’re calling it #sweatergate. Los Angeles meteorologist Liberte Chan was asked to cover up during a live weather report on Saturday, May 14, and it caused a storm of controversy on social media, but the KTLA reporter assured fans that she wasn’t offended.

Chan was wearing a sequin Aidan Mattox black dress during her weather report on Saturday morning when news anchor Chris Burrous handed her a gray cardigan. “We’re getting emails,” he explained.

“What’s going on? Why? Because it’s cold?” she replied as she donned the sweater, complaining, “I look like a librarian now.”

Even if it’s early in the AM, can’t beat a black beaded dress @KTLAMorningNews @AidanMattox @PistolandStamen pic.twitter.com/HYy1KUMYH1

— Liberté Chan (@libertechan) May 14, 2016

Several people took to Twitter claiming that Chan (who had changed out of a previous outfit because of trouble with the green screen that morning) had been publicly embarrassed and body-shamed. One commenter insisted it was a case of double standards, sharing a screen grab of a 2012 KTLA weather forecast that featured a male meteorologist with two models wearing skimpy lingerie.

Burrous apologized on Twitter, explaining that he offered up the sweater “in jest but I see how it seemed. I am sorry.”

https://twitter.com/mrmaxpower19k/status/731865845207433216

I completely understand meant in jest but I see how it seemed. I am sorry. I hope you will give me another chance

— Chris Burrous (@chrisburrous) May 15, 2016

KTLA has no comment, but Chan addressed the awkward moment with fans on Facebook Live on Sunday, May 15, admitting, “It became this big thing.”

“I really wasn’t offended,” she said. “People are kind of spinning it and saying that it was sexist.… I thought it was kind of funny. I think we just played into the viewers saying, you know, you should cover up, so he brought me over a sweater. But not offended, I don’t think it was sexist, but that’s just my opinion.”

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