Curvy News Anchor Wins Fans After Laughing Off Trolls’ Body-Shaming Comments On Television

Jan 02, 2026 by apost team

Social media has made it easier than ever for people to express their opinions, whether those are thoughtful, cruel, or intended for laughs. For every person who scrolls past content unfazed, there is someone else ready to take offense. Then some choose a different route entirely, turning the noise into entertainment. Missouri morning news anchor Carissa Codel falls squarely into that last category.

At 26, Carissa has found herself at the center of viral attention not because of breaking news, but because of how she responds to it. Rather than ignoring the comments strangers leave about her body, she reads them aloud in her signature on-air voice, turning anonymous criticism into comedy. The clips are filmed casually, often from her phone, but the effect has been anything but small.

Since starting the videos in August 2025, her online presence has grown rapidly. One Instagram reel posted in October racked up five million views, helping her amass more than 350,000 followers on the platform. On TikTok, she has built an audience of 159,000 followers and counting. The response suggests that many viewers are not only entertained but also relieved to see someone in a public-facing role push back against online scrutiny with humor rather than shame.

Carissa anchors “Ozark’s First” morning news on Fox 49, and her viral side project has introduced her to viewers far beyond Missouri. While her videos clearly involve reading comments about her appearance, what stands out is not the insults themselves, but her confidence in handling them.

She has made it clear that she controls what gets shared and how. For those curious about exactly what people have been saying, and how she delivers it, the comments she chooses to spotlight tell the full story.

In the videos, Carissa reads viewer remarks exactly as written, delivering them with a straight face and a broadcaster’s cadence. In a TikTok clip, she read: 

“Dayuum Gurl, I want you to put a hurting on me like you do those midnight snacks.”

In another, she read:

“You look like you could survive a harsh winter.”

One particularly memorable line had her flipping the script:

“Sources say there is enough cake for a triplet’s birthday party — but unfortunately for Josh, he won’t be getting a slice.”

Some of the comments veer into outright absurdity. “Fe fi foe yum,” one person wrote. Another added, “Brick wall, more like brick house, and I’m looking to move in.” A third chimed in with, “She gots enough muffin tops to start two bakeries.” Carissa has said she is selective about what she shares. She explained to The New York Post: “I don’t put up the extremely mean ones, but I like the insults that are very creative.” She continued:

“It doesn’t affect me at all. I think that they’re hilarious.”

Her perspective is shaped by experience. Carissa began working in news at 18 and says her family is thick-skinned. She has also lost 55 pounds over the past three years, which has changed how she views the criticism. She said: “I find it so funny, like, ‘Oh you think I’m big now, you should have seen me back then,’” and continued:

“I know who I am, and I know what I look like.”

At first, she worried the videos might hurt her professional reputation. Instead, she believes they have helped: “I think they see me as a more genuine person,” she continued, “instead of just a reporter.” Despite concerns about losing her credibility as a broadcaster, Carissa told The New York Post that the viral clips she has shared have only deepened her connection with her audience rather than undermined it.  

apost.com

What do you think of Carissa Codel’s videos and how she handles criticism? Let us know, and pass this along to your family, friends, and other loved ones.