claim: An animated GIF shows a wind-blown stop sign hitting a weather reporter.
origin: An old animated GIF purportedly showing weather reporter Holly EllenbogenÂ getting hit by a stop sign while covering a hurricane was recirculated on social media in September 2017 amidst a series of articles highlighting theÂ lengths thatÂ journalist go to in order to cover major storms:Â Although this GIF is often shared in jest during major storms and hurricanes, it is frequently posted alongside genuine clips of reporters braving the dangerous weather, leading some to falsely believe that this is a genuine clip of a weather reporter getting hit by a stop sign.Â The footage, however, comes from a 2006 episode of the television showÂ The ClassÂ entitled â€œThe Class Learns About Hurricanesâ€ in which reporter Holly Ellenbogen,Â played by actress Lucy Punch, reports from the eye of a hurricane: Mannionâ€™s original report was broadcast on â€œRTÃ‰ News: Nine oâ€™Clockâ€ during Storm Desmond in December 2015. Her emotionally charged reporting, coupled with some very obvious, yet necessary, pieces of advice (â€œdonâ€™t swim in the seaâ€), made Mannion an overnight viral sensation: Although Mannion has repeatedly confirmed that the video is fake, this video continues to circulate during major storms. It took another lap around the Internet in September 2017 amidst a series of massive tropical storms and hurricanes: < Shoutouts from @SnoopDogg and @50cent today, donâ€™t worry guys I wasnâ€™t hurt ?#Galway pic.twitter.com/W3jabN0q04 â€” TERESA MANNION (@TeresaMannion) September 11, 2017 >