coworkers claim pair were ‘connected at the hip’ – Business News
The relationship between fired Indiana meteorologist Alex Kerkhove and her mentor, veteran WTWO chief meteorologist Jesse Walker, is drawing recent scrutiny after nameless station workers claimed the pair were “attached at the hip” and described their bond as “very creepy.”
Employees at the Nexstar-owned Terre Haute station advised industry e-newsletter FTVLive that Walker, 60, took an unusually eager curiosity in Kerkhove even earlier than she joined WTWO following her commencement from Purdue University, alleging the two “chatted regularly” earlier than she was employed and later grew to become “obsessed with each other.”
“During her time at channel 2, her job was Weekend Meteorologist/Reporter, and she was only doing half of that job,” one station insider advised FTVLive.
Alex Kerkhove (proper) described veteran WTWO chief meteorologist Jesse Walker as “my rock” after asserting her departure from the Nexstar-owned station. Jesse Walker WTWO / Facebook
“When she wasn’t doing weather, she was attached to Jesse at the hip, and this would go on even after her shift would end.”
Another source cited by the e-newsletter claimed Kerkhove additionally got here into the station when she was not scheduled to work, went to dinner with Walker on her days off and incessantly accompanied him on outdoors shoots.
FTVLive additionally highlighted a portray that an insider stated Kerkhove gave Walker 5 months after assembly him — a present Walker later posted about on social media.
An nameless WTWO insider advised FTVLive that Kerkhove was “attached to Jesse at the hip” during her yr at the station. Jesse Walker WTWO / Facebook
One insider characterised the current as one thing a individual would possibly obtain from a romantic companion and requested whether or not it was regular between a mentor and protégée.
FTVLive burdened that it had “no clue about the relationship between Kerkhove and Walker,” however stated a number of people inside WTWO seen it as completely different from the skilled relationship they anticipated.
The two former colleagues were photographed collectively on a river tour after Kerkhove’s exit from WTWO. Jesse Walker WTWO / Facebook
The allegations surfaced weeks after Kerkhove’s abrupt departure drew an outpouring of help from WTWO viewers.
Kerkhove introduced on Facebook in June that she had been advised it was her final day at WTWO after management “did not see a future” for her at the station.
She stated the station deleted her skilled Facebook account, so she introduced her departure on her personal climate web page.
Kerkhove later returned to social media with a prolonged narrative about what she stated occurred during her yr at WTWO.
She claimed managers advised her she may converse with Walker for under 15 to twenty minutes whereas they were working as a result of “they watch the security camera.”
Kerkhove additionally alleged she was barred from posting on WTWO’s Facebook web page about occasions or festivals she attended on her days off with station workers, was moved away from on-air climate duties shortly after being employed and was restricted to 4 hours of work during a severe-weather outbreak regardless of volunteering to help.
One station source claimed Kerkhove typically stayed late whereas nonetheless clocked in to spend time with Walker. Jesse Walker WTWO / Facebook
According to Kerkhove, after management realized she had obtained a contingent job offer elsewhere, managers requested what they might do to influence her to remain and requested that she put her issues in writing.
She stated management then rejected all of her requests and advised her the station meant to promote her place regardless that she had not resigned.
Kerkhove stated she was summoned to an early-morning assembly on June 8, knowledgeable it could be her final day, pressured to say she was resigning and escorted from the building by HR.
By the time she reached her car, she stated, her e mail had been deactivated and her Facebook web page had been deleted.
Kerkhove credited Walker with supporting her during the dispute.
“Jesse Walker, WTWO has been my rock in this all,” she wrote in her initial farewell post.
“He has fought for me time and time again. I was only here a year but made a friend and mentor for a lifetime.”
Kerkhove stated Walker had “fought for me time and time again” during her dispute with station management. Meteorologist Alex Kerkhove ¿/ Facebook
Walker publicly defended Kerkhove the day after her departure, writing that he had seen one thing related solely as soon as earlier than in his 40-year profession at WTWO and calling her “one of the best meteorologists I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”
He additionally wrote that management’s handling of Kerkhove’s departure “has made my decision for my future pretty clear now,” including that he had deliberate to stay at WTWO as a result of he thought-about Kerkhove “such a great weather partner.”
More lately, Walker posted pictures of himself and Kerkhove collectively during a river tour, writing that it was her first river journey.
Nexstar claims it didn’t fire Kerkhove, whereas she has stated she was terminated.
The Post has sought remark from Kerkhove, Walker and WTWO.
