Meteorologist calls 'Bachelorette' viewers 'pathetic' for complaining about his emergency tornado warning: 'I’m done with you people'
A Dayton, Ohio, meteorologist lashed out at “pathetic” Bachelorette viewers who complained that his station’s emergency tornado coverage was interrupting the reality show.
Jamie Simpson, a weatherman for Fox 45 Now, was warning viewers about the destructive tornado rolling into the area on Monday night, which ultimately killed one person and caused widespread damage from eastern Indiana to central Ohio. The feedback he got on social media for it sparked outrage.
“I was just checking social media,” Simpson said during his broadcast. “We have viewers complaining already: ‘Just go back to the show.’ No, we’re not going back to the show, folks. This is a dangerous situation, OK? Think about if this was your neighborhood. I’m sick and tired of people complaining about this. Our job here is to keep people safe and that is what we’re going to do. Some of you complain this is all about my ego. Stop. Just stop right now. It’s not. I’m done with you people, I really am. Pathetic.”
WATCH: Weatherman @JamieFOX45Now in Dayton, Ohio snapped at viewers complaining on social media about the network's decision to cut into The Bachelorette Monday evening with emergency tornado warning coverage
"I'm done with you people, I really am. This is pathetic" pic.twitter.com/m4nxmoUUkY— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) May 28, 2019
The irate weather man then offered an apology, saying, “I’m sorry I did that. It just really bothers me that we have people who don’t care about other people’s safety around here. That’s just ridiculous.”
The mayor of Celina, Ohio, which is 80 miles north of Dayton and was where the fatality occurred, said the area looked like a “war zone” with “some of the houses completely moved off their foundations and gone.” A dozen people were injured.
AERIAL VIEW OF TORNADO DAMAGE IN DAYTON:
Widespread damage in Northridge, just north of downtown Dayton. Latest >> https://t.co/QkbY8WRkP9 pic.twitter.com/PParwyZwNJ— WLWT (@WLWT) May 28, 2019
But Bachelorette fans who didn’t want to miss a second of Hannah’s adventures, which included a trip to the ER, were annoyed by the interruption. “Get off the screen,” one commenter wrote during a news interruption. “ppl are trying to watch more important things that tornado warnings here aka the bachelorette.” Another posted, “If a tornado doesn’t hit tonight I’m going to be very angry, thanks for ruining my bachelorette time.”
Sometimes, I find I have to take a gander at the worst and dumbest of humanity. I shouldn’t look, but I can’t stay away.
Tonight’s glance is at people complaining about a tornado warning preempting “The Bachelorette." pic.twitter.com/zx0y5bfpTw— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) May 28, 2019
It does not take 45 minutes to say there is a tornado. Just let me watch the bachelorette. 🙄
— Shelby Farmer (@farmer_jo1) May 28, 2019
i’d rather unexpectedly get hit by a tornado than to have a 40 minute news break during the bachelorette #imsomad
— kait ? (@kaitlynvanzantt) May 28, 2019
The fact that the weatherman is still talking about this tornado warning is beyond rude and disrespectful because I have missed 34 minutes of the bachelorette
— hb (@HannahBullion) May 28, 2019
Others on social media weighed in on what an inconvenience the safety warning was.
That’s why they have tornado sirens, I don’t need some guy to tell me to be safe and interrupt what I’m doing. A much better system would be to handle it like an Amber Alert on your phone. It doesn’t interrupt your entertainment but still lets you know. Just my opinion though.
— Tylen ?? (@tylenlampkin) May 28, 2019
It even led Hannah herself to comment.
Lolz too funny, thanks Dayton, Ohio for the love, but be safe. naders are no joke. https://t.co/RdxYOUpx4w
— Hannah Brown (@AlabamaHannah) May 28, 2019
In light of the destruction, Simpson is being applauded today — including by a fellow meteorologist.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 We break coverage for a reason. Tonight, lives were at risk in parts of the country & Jamie Simpson was tired of the complaining. https://t.co/x0PtNSSxvW
— Ethan Emery (@EthanEmeryWX) May 28, 2019
@JamieFOX45Now is not the hero @cityofdayton deserves. He is the hero we need. #DaytonTornado https://t.co/JaI1o5M5o0
— Joshua Lisec (@JoshuaLisec) May 28, 2019
Jamie Simpson is one of the most passionate people regarding weather and safety. Good for him for stressing the importance of this coverage. Based on the tornados last night, he probably saved some lives https://t.co/PJsKRJQXxc
— Loretta (@GoodSKGirl) May 28, 2019
As a kid, Jamie Simpson made me want to be a meteorologist... until I did a practice meteorology thing at a science museum and realized my anxious ass 100000% didn't belong in front of a camera lmao. But I'm very glad the world's caught on to his brilliance.
— Phil Stamper 🚀🏳??🌈 (@stampepk) May 28, 2019
I have never related to something more than when Jamie Simpson SNAPPED on life television last night. Personal hero.
— aryn landes (@just_arynnn) May 28, 2019
And the Bachelorette viewers who complained are being slammed.
But, but, I wanted to watch the Bachelorette 🙄🙄🙄🙄
— Women Rising (@femalesrule89) May 28, 2019
The fact that you watch the bachelorette and think it’s more important than tornado warnings make you a horrible person
— Jessica Light (@mrslightwy) May 28, 2019
The Bachelorette is now in its 15th season, which just started on May 13.
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