Longtime Alabama meteorologist James Spann has drawn the line on what he will accept on social media.
Spann announced Tuesday that he is deleting his TikTok account after the response to a Pensacola waterspout video he posted to the platform that morning prompted his decision to leave.
The waterspout was spotted off Pensacola Beach on Monday, Sept. 7. Spann shared video of it on his other social media accounts Monday before posting it to TikTok Tuesday morning.
“I made the mistake of posting the Pensacola waterspout video on that platform this morning,” Spann wrote.
Within minutes, Spann said he was accused of posting a “fake, AI” video and of being a 16-year-old kid rather than a “real meteorologist.” He also described the comments as “mostly a cesspool of soft porn, disrespect, and gutter language.”
“I have a great sense of humor, but TikTok has turned into an ocean of ignorance, false information, and horrible people,” Spann wrote. “I simply can’t be associated with it; everyone has to draw the line somewhere.”
But the reaction to Tuesday’s TikTok post was not Spann’s only complaint with the social media platform.
Spann said TikTok has restricted his account and demonetized him, although he made clear that earning money from the platform was not his reason for using it.
“They say my content isn’t appropriate for their platform,” Spann wrote. “Most of the weather content there is total nonsense; they should be reaching out to professional meteorologists for help in bringing credibility. But they seem to have no interest in that.”
Leaving a social media platform is a step Spann said he has never taken before.
“In all my years I have never abandoned a social media platform, but the time has come,” he wrote.
The announcement drew support from followers, many of whom said they did not blame Spann for leaving TikTok and would continue following him on other platforms. One commenter called the decision “TikTok’s loss,” while others said they would keep following Spann on Facebook.
Spann told his TikTok followers they can continue following him on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and X. He also thanked Meta for its support.
“Thanks to all of you who follow here; I appreciate the support and I promise to keep good and reliable weather content here,” Spann wrote.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
