The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported that a young weather forecaster from the CBS affiliate in Milwaukee has been dismissed following remarks she made about Elon Musk on social media. According to the report, the weather anchor, Sam Kuffel, aged 31, was let go from WDJT-TV, also known as Channel 58, after she allegedly likened a gesture made by Musk to a Nazi salute. The network informed its employees through an email on Wednesday about Kuffel’s termination. By Wednesday afternoon, Kuffel’s biography and photo had been removed from the Channel 58 official website.
According to a staff memo circulated by news director Jessie Garcia, “Meteorologist Sam Kuffel is no longer employed at CBS58. A search for a replacement is underway.” This swift decision seemed to be triggered by Kuffel’s posts on her personal Instagram account. In one particular post, Kuffel shared a picture of Musk at a podium, commenting, “Dude Nazi saluted twice. TWICE. During the inauguration.” She followed up with a strong statement, “You (expletive) with this and this man, I don’t (expletive) with you. Full stop.” Kuffel further added to her posts by sharing a GIF from the popular TV show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” accompanied by the caption, “Screw that old (expletive). He’s a Nazi.”
Well. That is INSANE https://t.co/fI9DvZzaQc
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@AdamKinzinger) January 24, 2025
Dan O’Donnell, a conservative radio host, was quick to condemn Kuffel’s posts, labeling them “vulgar.” He accused her of “spreading the lie that Elon Musk was giving a Nazi salute” during a recent presidential inauguration. This case of social media controversy quickly gained traction, with many on Twitter accusing the network of “cancel culture” for firing Kuffel. Her defenders presented the incident as if she had merely expressed a simple view, calling Musk an “old Nazi.”
This isn’t the first instance where social media activities have stirred controversy in the Milwaukee TV news scene. In 2020, WITI news anchor Ted Perry found himself temporarily suspended after he made a politically charged comment on Facebook following the death of the beloved “Jeopardy!” host, Alex Trebek. Perry’s post included a sharp jab, stating, “2020 takes Alex Trebek but leaves Mitch McConnell? Just end already.”
The incident involving Sam Kuffel has sparked debates around freedom of speech, social media conduct, and professional consequences, particularly highlighting the blurred lines between personal expression and professional responsibility.