Fake Weather? Or Too Tired To Stand Up?

"This is about as nasty as it's been," says The Weather Channel's Mike Seidel, reporting from Wilmington, leaning in the heavy winds, struggling to maintain his footing.

But viewers looked at what was happening behind him and cried foul.

Watch the two guys in shorts, walking down the street as if nothing is happening.

Fake news? Fake weather?  It quicky went viral, undermining the network's coverage of Hurricane Florence.

The Weather Channel defended Seidel in a statement (from the Atlanta Journal Constitution)::

“It’s important to note that the two individuals in the background are walking on concrete, and Mike Seidel is trying to maintain his footing on wet grass, after reporting on-air until 1:00 a.m. ET this morning and is undoubtedly exhausted,” the network said.

C'mon, TWC... walking on concrete is easier than standing in the grass?  Sleep deprived?  That's the best you could come up with?

How about keeping it real?  Admitting that it's not that bad yet where you are, but you believe it's going to be, based on the best information you've got.  Maybe even acknowledge that we're glad it's not a Category 3 or 4, but we still have some serious issues with this one.   After building up the "major" hurricane that was going to hit, it seems like everyone pooh-pooh'd the category once it wasn't major anymore.  

Take a look at preliminary results from the Atlanta Journal Constitution's poll on the subject.  

Here are a few of the reactions posted....

Right or wrong, now some viewers are looking at his other reports more critcally--