A video of Weather Channel’s Mike Seidel battling wind gusts in the eye of hurricane Florence has gone viral for all the wrong reasons, after two men casually walking by in the background were spotted on live broadcast.

During a live Weather Channel broadcast from Wilmington, North Carolina, Seidel is seemingly holding on for his life. He has been ridiculed online, though, after an attentive viewer spotted two locals walking by in the background as if nothing special was going on. The men, dressed in hoodies, can be seen taking snaps with their phones while Seidel is struggling to stand on his feet.

So dramatic! Dude from the weather channel bracing for his life, as 2 dudes just stroll past. #HurricaneFlorencepic.twitter.com/8FRyM4NLbL — Tony scar. (@gourdnibler) September 14, 2018

The video has taken Twitter by storm, getting shared over 35,000 times with users accusing the 24-hour channel for hyping up the already tragic cause for the sake of ratings.

I've been saying for years that the Weather Channel on camera personalities sensationalize storms. They are not a news agency, but an entertainment company. Despicable behavior. They owe everyone a public apology, but it won't happen. #ratings#profits — mmm (@Real_Joe_Friday) September 14, 2018

This dude from @weatherchannel is straight up faking this. He can barely stand up while 2 dudes just walk by in the background. I think that’s why producers panned our 😂 yes. This storm is bad but literally don’t need #fakewind added to the madness #HurricanFlorence#FakeNewspic.twitter.com/TkNtejCNas — MSTRDaB8R (@gordo924) September 14, 2018

The Weather Channel was immediately branded “fake news,” with some users wondering whether it was acquired by CNN, a prime target of US President Donald Trump’s criticism of the mainstream media.

CNN has acquired The Weather Channel https://t.co/oCani5zwCR — Kip Herriage (@KHerriage) September 14, 2018

Some called on the weathercaster to issue a public apology, while others suggested the ‘performance’ by Seidel, who seems to be deliberately standing in the wind, deserves an Oscar.

“Acting like they’re leaning into the wind with two people walking easily behind them. Is this not exactly what @realDonaldTrump has been talking about?” one user tweeted.

The weather channel caught faking the intensity of the storm. Acting like they’re leaning into the wind with two people walking easily behind them. Is this not exactly what @realDonaldTrump has been talking about? — The Catch Fence ™ (@TheCatchFence) September 14, 2018

Weather Channel Meme:💨Exaggeration - To magnify beyond the limits of truth2 Errors:💨Lean Into The Wind - To stand in a high wind, you need to lean into the wind, that is, opposite the direction that the wind is blowing💨Dont let 2 people stroll effortlessly past you 🤣 pic.twitter.com/2lANUJx9TV — Laurel Coons 🌀🔬 (@LaurelCoons) September 14, 2018

#Oscar nominations on tap for weather channel's sensational coverage of #HurricaneFlorence but I would prefer a tad more transparency in #weather forecast. https://t.co/Gf27ljfpHU — JMo3 (@Moore_J3) September 14, 2018

The Weather Channel defended their reporter in a statement on Friday.

“It’s important to note that the two individuals in the background are walking on concrete, and Mike Seidel is trying to maintain his footing on wet grass, after reporting on-air until 1:00 am ET this morning and is undoubtedly exhausted,” the channel said.

While Seidel did seem overly dramatic in Friday’s newscast, Hurricane Florence is no joking matter. Looming as a Category 5 earlier this week, it has since been downgraded to a tropical storm. Florence made landfall Friday morning northeast of Wilmington, North Carolina, tearing off roofs with winds of over 70mph.

The storm has killed at least five people so far, including a mother and a 8-month old child who died after a tree crashed on their home in Wilmington. One of the casualties, a 77-year-old man, died after reportedly being blown away by the howling winds.

The National Weather Service is predicting “catastrophic flash flooding” along the coastline of the Carolinas.

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