What To Know
- Ginger Zee reacted to a social media comment accusing her of “fear-mongering” with her extreme-heat weather reports.
- The Good Morning America meteorologist candidly defended her reports against the comment in a social media video.
- Many fans supported Zee, appreciating her focus on factual reporting and public safety.
Ginger Zee isn’t a fan of people dismissing the facts in her weather reports.
The Good Morning America meteorologist took to Instagram on Monday, July 13, to share information about the “all-time record heat” several cities across the U.S. experienced over the weekend. “Just to emphasize again, all-time means that — in Salt Lake City, for example, reliable records begin in the year 1874,” she explained. “And never, in the time period that we have kept these records, have we seen 109 degrees before. But we did [on] Sunday. It was sizzling.”
She continued, “These numbers, again, all-time record heat. Not necessarily going to be all-time as it moves east, but there are extreme heat warnings all the way to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.”
Underneath the post, one Instagram user wrote, “Typical fear mongering from a left-leaning meteorologist… It’s called July in the United States lady.” Rather than respond in a comment of her own, she responded in another Monday Instagram video.
“Tell me how it’s fear-mongering when I am stating facts? Are you afraid? Did I tell you to be afraid? Go watch back my video and try that again, because ‘it’s called July’ is actually not what it is,” she stated. “It’s July now, because these are the numbers we’re seeing now. But in Salt Lake City, for example, 1874 is when reliable records began, and we have not seen 109 ever since reported history. That’s all I’m saying.”
Zee concluded the clip by saying, “I don’t understand why you get so moved by this. Maybe that’s something you should talk to your therapist about.”
In the post’s caption, she added, “I get so sick of people trying to say that ‘media is fear mongering’ when all I’m doing is stating facts. If you are afraid that is your reaction to all-time record heat. Go back and look at my last post. Tell me how that is fear mongering. Did you hear this at a water cooler 20 years ago and you just keep repeating it? Without even listening or learning?”
Fans reacted to Zee’s candid response in the post’s comments. “You’re just telling people to stay safe stay cool. Stay hydrated because we have extreme heat going on,” one user wrote. Another quipped, “The problem is that you came at them with facts. They don’t like that. Or books. Or science. Or due process.”
Someone else shared, “That is terrible what some say to you. I get panic attacks and anxiety. But never ever had a weather person cause me fear. I appreciate being warned. This is so helpful. Thanks for all your hard work. Appreciate you.”
A different person posted, “Ginger, don’t waste your time on climate deniers. What’s happening IS happening and the rest of us recognize it and appreciate your expertise in reporting the truth. Thank you!” A separate commenter stated, “Ginger, keep on dealing with the facts that’s all you can do you can’t control people in the way they think.”
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