A Minnesota meteorologist is gaining widespread attention after a candid on-air moment during a severe weather broadcast went viral.
Nick Jansen, chief meteorologist for NBC affiliate KTTC, was seen texting on his cellphone while delivering a live report on severe storms impacting southeastern Minnesota and northern Iowa on Monday, July 28.
Moments later, Jansen addressed viewers directly. “Sorry, I just had to text my wife,” he said. “[The] baby was sleeping the whole night. So that’s going to be over with at this point in time.”
However, not everyone appreciated the moment. According to Jansen, a viewer criticized him via email, calling his actions “unprofessional.”
“The quote that really struck me: ‘That he has to call his wife to make sure she takes the baby to safety? Maybe some people think it’s noble or cute. I don’t,’ ” Jansen shared in a Facebook post.
Jansen responded to the criticism by standing his ground, calling the moment an example of “me being human.”
“I take my job and your safety very seriously. But I’m also a husband and a father,” he wrote. “In the middle of severe weather, I decided to take a brief moment to make sure my wife and child were safely in the basement.”
“I am a husband and a father FIRST,” he added. “Let’s all try to show each other a little more understanding and respect in life.”
As of Monday, Aug. 4, the video clip shared on Jansen’s page had been viewed over 15 million times and garnered around 285,000 likes.
In a follow-up post on Sunday, Aug. 3, Jansen expressed gratitude to those who supported him and his family.
“Truly, thank you for all the love and support over the past few days,” he wrote, sharing a photo of himself with his child. “I never imagined that post would get the kind of response it did, not in a million years.”
“Every like, comment, share, and message has meant the world to me,” he continued. “Your kindness and encouragement have been a powerful reminder of why I do what I do. And oh, the little one says hello!”
KTTC Vice-President and General Manager Stephanie Hedrick also defended Jansen’s actions in a statement shared by the station.
“The KTTC team is proud of Nick and the work he and the First Alert weather team did Monday night and the work they continue to do to keep our communities safe. That includes their own families,” Hedrick said.
“KTTC knows that when our meteorologists, anchors and reporters are delivering the news, they are also talking to their own families—informing them and helping to keep them safe,” she continued. “In this case, viewers saw that happen live—Nick being a good husband and dad by taking a moment and making sure they were safe.”
She concluded, “Thank you to all those who support our team during such moments. We hope all know the importance of such safety measures during severe weather.”
