Weather presenter handed cardigan and forced to cover up after complaints about her dress

THE weather presenter who was handed a cardigan by a male news anchor during a live broadcast has assured angry viewers she “wasn’t offended”.

The cardigan is handed to Chan while live on air. Picture: KTLA

A FEMALE weather presenter was made to wear a cardigan to cover up her arms midway through a live broadcast after feedback from viewers that her dress was inappropriate.

Presenter Liberté Chan was delivering her segment for Los Angeles based TV station KTLA in a black dress before a grey cardigan was handed to her by a news anchor off screen.

“What’s going on?” Chan asked as the cardigan was presented to her, “you want me to put this on? Why? Because it’s cold in here?”

Male news anchor Chris Burrous then tells her: “We’re getting emails”.

Stunned, Chan replied: “What? Really? I look like a librarian now”.

Chan puts on the cardigan after being told viewers had complained about her dress. Picture: KTLA

Burrous then remarked to his female colleague that the cardigan over the dress “worked”.

“It’s a librarian who’s going to a cocktail party,” he said of the new look. “Everyone’s got an opinion on your dress this morning.”

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

Chan then explained that the reason she had to wear the black beaded number was because “the other dress didn’t work” and it “keyed out” against the green screen.

Various viewers on social media called criticism of her outfit “sexist” and said there was nothing wrong with her dress in the first place. Some even referred to the incident as #sweatergate on Twitter, firing off a barrage of angry tweets to the station.

The on air outfit update was unnecessary and brought more attention to her clothes. Do better KTLA #sweatergate #KTVUthe9

— ❤Mrs Jones❤ (@Soulsis82) May 16, 2016

ATTN WOMEN: Chest, Shoulders, Arms and Legs. If you're showing one, the other three MUST BE COVERED! Signed, Sexual Repression!#SweaterGate

— FearlessVixen Events (@FearlessVix) May 16, 2016

Burrous later responded to some of the tweets as the outrage continued to escalate, apologising to viewers and asking for “another chance”.

@crowsight @hoseph_ @KTLA 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

Chan eventually addressed the awkward moment with fans on Facebook, 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.”

In a lengthy post on her personal blog, the meteorologist further explained:

“For the record, I was not ordered by KTLA to put on the sweater. I was simply playing along with my co-anchor’s joke, and if you’ve ever watched the morning show, you know we poke fun at each other all the time.

“And, also for the record, there is no controversy at KTLA. My bosses did not order me to put on the cardigan, it was a spontaneous moment. I truly love my job, I like my bosses and enjoy working with my co-workers. Since talking to my team, I want our viewers to know it was never our intention to offend anyone. We are friends on and off the air and if you watch our newscast, you know that.”

They made her put on a grey cardigan sweater - ON AIR. After they told her nobody likes her dress - ON AIR @KTLA pic.twitter.com/w5HCiKPxvO

— Heather Poole (@Heather_Poole) May 14, 2016

Originally published as Weather presenter handed cardigan and forced to cover up after complaints about her dress