Local Philadelphia television meteorologist Katie Fehlinger’s Facebook post addressing negative social media remarks she’s received about her pregnant on-air appearances has gone viral over the past three days with over 31,000 likes and 2,000 shares.
Comments calling her a “sausage in casing” and insults like “sticking your pregnant abdomen out like that is disgusting,” prompted Fehlinger, of CBS 3 Philly, to take a stand on her personal Facebook page in a status posted late Wednesday morning.
“Even during the most uncomfortable – and let’s face it, less than glamorous – symptoms of pregnancy, what women go through to bring their precious children into the world is, simply put, AMAZING and you should be lauded,” she wrote.
Fehlinger, nearly 35 weeks pregnant with twin girls, says she tried to ignore the negativity at first.
“I didn’t respond, I tried to move on, but it really hurt my feelings,” she told Yahoo Parenting.
“Then I got another one this week, about looking ‘disgusting,’ and a switch flipped for me,” she told the website. “I had a moment of clarity – I didn’t get embarrassed or hurt. I got fed up.”
Positive feedback to Fehlinger’s post has come flooding in, with pregnant mothers posting pictures of baby bumps with the #CBS3 hashtag to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
“This exploded, because this is the most relatable thing in the world,” she told CBS 3.
“I can’t say it enough,” she told her station. “I’m so grateful for all this support. It gets to the point where you have to say something!”
This article originally appeared on People.com
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Breaking Down the 2024 Election Calendar
- How Nayib Bukele’s ‘Iron Fist’ Has Transformed El Salvador
- What if Ultra-Processed Foods Aren’t as Bad as You Think?
- How Ukraine Beat Russia in the Battle of the Black Sea
- Long COVID Looks Different in Kids
- How Project 2025 Would Jeopardize Americans’ Health
- What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits
- The 32 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024
Contact us at letters@time.com