A Boston weatherman has come under fire after making outrageous comments about the NASA landing that brought back two astronauts who had been stuck in space for nine months.
What was supposed to be a celebratory moment of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returning to Earth was tainted after NBC Boston meteorologist Pete Bouchard proposed a video of the landing had been altered by artificial intelligence.
‘I’m no conspiracy theorist, but that splashdown today had strong hints of AI enhancement in the drone footage,’ he wrote in a Facebook post with an emoji wearing a monocle.
‘Lighting looked cinematic. Was it the camera?’
The weatherman had deleted his original post, where he questioned in the dolphins seen in the footage were actually real or added by AI for more effect.
Commenting on the debacle: ‘My original post was simply commenting on how visually appealing and perfect the landing looked using the drone. I was curious about the technology and the camera the crew used to capture the scene.
‘This doesn’t take anything away from the brave astronauts or remarkable scientists involved in returning a capsule from space. It’s a remarkable feat and a heroic moment for our country.’
His Bluesky post still references the dolphins, reading: ‘I know I won’t feed the conspiracy theorists on this platform, but that splashdown today had strong hints of AI enhancement. And the pod of dolphins that just happened to surface?’
What was supposed to be a celebratory moment of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returning to Earth was tainted after NBC Boston meteorologist Pete Bouchard (pictured) proposed a video of the landing had been altered by artificial intelligence
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth after nine months stuck in space. ‘I’m no conspiracy theorist, but that splashdown today had strong hints of AI enhancement in the drone footage,’ Bouchard wrote in a Facebook post with an emoji wearing a monocle
‘And the pod of dolphins that just happened to surface?’ he wrote on Bluesky. NASA drone footage showed a pod of dolphins appearing near the capsule after it landed in the ocean
NASA drone footage showed a pod of dolphins appearing near the capsule after it landed in the ocean.
Although he said he ‘walked back’ on the dolphins cynicism, he still questioned the video on the platform, unlike his other ones.
‘NOT refuting the landing itself. Nor criticizing NASA or the administration. Simply stating that the camera seemed to have enhanced the view. (Why isn’t the sun glistening off the capsule? Why are the shadows muted?),’ he wrote.
He claimed the footage was ‘totally unrealistic at reentry’ and questioned if it was due to the ‘camera settings.’
Many of Bouchard’s followers were not happy with his speculations, ripping into him for it in the comment section.
‘This is the most ridiculous post I have read in a very long time,’ Mary Ann Albert Boucher wrote on Facebook.
‘You should know yourself that that boats had to be at least three miles away from the splashdown site and the capsule touched down only going at a rate of 16 mph.
‘It was said over and over again that the weather was absolutely perfect for such an event. Imagine, dolphins in the ocean. The astronauts made it safely to earth. Their mission was a success…Let it be just that.’
Many of Bouchard’s followers were not happy with his speculations, ripping into him for it in the comment section
‘»I’m no conspiracy theorist » but I have a conspiracy theory,’ another wrote.
‘Stay in your lane Pete,’ David Lybarger wrote on the platform.
‘Just do the weather. Which basically means reading the forecast the government agency provided to all the other stations. Stand in front of a screen and wave your arms,’ Lewis Rizk wrote.
‘You, sir, are an absolute [clown],’ another wrote.
This isn’t the first time Bouchard has made a fumble.
The meteorologist went viral while working for WHDH 7 News when he said the nine inches of snow as ‘almost as big as me.’
