We often tell our kids, “Be kind.” It’s a simple, yet profound lesson.
But sometimes, even grown-ups need a reminder.
Leslie Horton, a seasoned Canadian news reporter, recently found herself teaching this lesson in an unexpected and powerful way.
After more than 20 years on Global News Morning Calgary, Horton encountered something no one should ever experience – public body-shaming.
It happened during a routine traffic report.
Horton paused to address a viewer’s email, which mockingly congratulated her on a pregnancy that didn’t exist and critiqued her clothing.
This wasn’t just a rude comment; it was a deeply personal jab.
Horton, with grace and poise, clarified that she wasn’t pregnant.
In fact, she had lost her uterus to cancer the year before.
During the segment, she said:
“I’m just going to respond to an email that I just got, saying, ‘Congratulations on your pregnancy. If you’re gonna wear old bus driver pants then you have to expect emails like this.'”
“So, thanks for that. Um, no, I’m not pregnant. I actually lost my uterus to cancer last year.”
But she wasn’t finished.
Horton then perfectly responded:
“This is what women of my age look like. So if it is offensive to you, that is unfortunate. Think about the emails you send.”
She’d been on a difficult journey.
Horton’s battle with endometrial cancer, a serious condition where cancer cells grow in the uterus lining, had led her to step away from work in January 2022.
She openly shared her cancer journey on social media, shedding light on the struggles and life changes that come with such a diagnosis.
Returning to her job was more than just a professional move; it showed her strength and a renewed appreciation for life and the community around her.
The incident quickly caught fire on social media, with platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and X buzzing with support for Horton.
People left comments like:
“If you look up the word “class” in the dictionary, you’ll see a picture of this brave woman. More power to her!”
Another person wrote:
“Well done Leslie! You look fantastic and loved how you handled this clown! Prayers for no more cancer 💙🙏”
Horton’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the power of our words.
In today’s digital age, where anonymity can embolden people to say things they wouldn’t in person, her story shows the need for thoughtfulness in our communication.
The email, intended to demean and hurt, was met with Horton’s dignified and strong response, turning a moment of attack into an advocacy for kindness and respect.
In a conversation with “Good Morning America,” Horton revealed that she usually ignores negative comments.
However, this particular remark hit a raw nerve.
It wasn’t just an impolite message; it was a personal attack, completely disregarding her recent fight with cancer.
Her on-air response was spontaneous, a heartfelt reaction to a mean-spirited and inappropriate remark.
She shared:
“I just thought you don’t get to do that. And that must have been what came from my heart. I had no plans. I responded. I thought nothing more of it. I walked back to my desk and continued on my day.”
Watch the video below to see Horton’s response to the rude troll!
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