A popular Indiana college grad who managed to land a job as a meteorologist on a local TV news station says she was fired by parent company Nexstar — which then deleted her Facebook account.
Alex Kerkhove, who was hired by Terre Haute-based WTWO after graduating from Purdue University last June, posted a message on social media earlier this week letting her viewers know she was out.
Her viral post ignited anger among her viewers, with one person commenting, “Shocked by this!” Another wrote that the station “definitely made the wrong move.”
News of Kerkhove’s departure was first reported by the FTVLive newsletter.
“This is an extremely difficult post to make. I am posting on my personal weather page because they deleted my FB,” Kerkhove wrote on Monday.
She said her employers informed her that the day was her last at the station, adding that while she had hoped to remain at WTWO longer, management “did not see a future” for her there.
“Honestly, I can’t get into the weeds of what went on behind the scenes,” she wrote, explaining that she was limited in what she could say about the circumstances surrounding her departure.
Despite losing her job, Kerkhove stressed that she is not leaving the wonderful world of weather watching.
“This obviously is not a goodbye,” she wrote, pledging to continue sharing weather updates, gardening posts, festival visits and historical weather fun facts with followers.
She also thanked viewers for their support, saying many had encouraged her and shown “such love to a Farm girl from West Lafayette.”
The reaction on Facebook was overwhelmingly supportive, with hundreds of commenters expressing shock, disappointment and frustration over Kerkhove’s departure.
Many viewers praised her on-air presence, forecasting skills and chemistry with veteran meteorologist Jesse Walker, while others questioned the station’s decision to part ways with a personality they viewed as a rising local talent.
Numerous commenters predicted the station would regret the move, describing Kerkhove as “amazing,” “talented” and a “ray of sunshine.”
The Post has sought comment from Kerkhove and Nexstar.