Charles Barkley has always been an empath. And not just for people close to him, but for anything that would spell disaster for others. The first thing that popped in his head when TNT basically blindsided him by trading the iconic studio show Inside the NBA to ESPN, was, “What about my colleagues?”

During an appearance on The Better Angol podcast in November last year, the retired NBA player-turned-broadcaster had lamented, “I’ll tell you what’s fun. They haven’t even told us we lost the NBA. We have to hear it through the media…Basically, we got traded…I was never worried about me, Ernie, Kenny, and Shaq because obviously we’re gonna have our opportunities…But like, when you talk to people who you are friends with. They’re like ‘Yo man, I’m married, I have kids, I have a mortgage and I’m not gonna have a job in six or seven months’.”

“That’s like a real thing. I’ve been in the NBA my whole life, so I’ve never been around people who have had to worry about their job security. But it was so stressful at work because number one, you could tell we were gonna lose the contract.” Thankfully, CNBC’s Alex Sherman later confirmed, “All the talent will remain TNT Sports employees and can be used in other future shows or projects for warner bros Discovery,” bringing a sense of relief to Barkley, and hundreds more. However, that relief is short-lived, it seems…

Another piece of heartbreaking and alarming information surfaced just two months later. Earlier this month, Byron Allen-led Allen Media Group—which owns around two dozen TV stations in the country—announced that it would lay off or reassign at least 100 meteorologists, and outsource coverage from The Weather Channel (which the group acquired for $300 million in 2018), as part of a cost-cutting move. “This innovative partnership based at The Weather Channel’s Atlanta headquarters brings together world-class meteorological expertise, cutting-edge technology, and the most advanced forecasting tools to deliver superior weather content to local television station audiences,” a press release dated January 17 had noted.

As reported by CNN, instead of local meteorologists, weather updates would now come from a hub in Atlanta, led by Weather Channel veteran Carl Parker. While some meteorologists would be offered new roles, others would face the uncertain road of finding new opportunities.

And it’s safe to say that Charles Barkley is hardly impressed. During an episode of The Steam Room podcast aired January 26, Chuck shared his thoughts on the reports of mass firings. “I want to give a shout-out to the meteorologists in the country who are going to lose their job. I saw this story…people make fun of me cuz I read a newspaper every day cuz I want to know what’s happening in the world…,” Barkley began.

“So, apparently, they’re firing all these meteorologists because I guess it’s an [Allen Media Group] thing. Hundreds of them, they’re going to fire all local…I shouldn’t say all, but a lot. Like hundreds. I think the total was like 300 to 400. They’re going to lose their job because they’re going to start doing local weather from The Weather Channel…

It’s hard not to feel the weight of his next words. “I felt so bad for those people…Like I saw a couple anchors break down on television just saying goodbye and thank you. It’s brutal, man, when you lose your job. It just flat-out s-cks. So thinking about the meteorologists. Man, it s-cks, but it is what it is,” he said while concluding his monologue. Thankfully, though, the retired NBA star can heave a sigh of relief yet again…

As per an update from January 22, Byron Allen has reportedly reconsidered his plans after immense backlash. The Desk.net reported that “executives at Allen Media began reversing course, notifying some stations that plans to lay off the remaining local TV meteorologists were being put on hold.”

“Statement managers at WAAY (Channel 31, ABC) in Huntsville, Alabama and WTVA (Channel 9, NBC) in Tupelo, Mississippi were among those notified by the change. At those two stations, local TV meteorologists will continue to have a job for at least the foreseeable future. The same is true at KWWL (Channel 7, NBC) in eastern Iowa; WSIL (Channel 3, ABC) in Harrisburg, Illinois; KEZI (Channel 9, ABC) in Eugene, Oregon and KDRV (Channel 12, ABC) in Medford, Oregon, where station officials were told Allen Media was pausing plans to lay off their TV weather forecasters,” the report further noted.

An unnamed sales manger from AMG told the media house through email, “After receiving significant feedback across various markets, Allen Media has decided to pause and reconsider the strategy of providing local weather from the Weather Channel in Atlanta.” However, what’s unclear is the status of those reporters that have already been laid off. As of now, the media and entertainment company has declined to comment on the matter.

Having said that, it’s understandable why Charles Barkley would be so distressed with the news. Because, like we said, he has always been an empath…

Barkley once gave up $100 Million for others to keep their jobs

During one of his appearances on the Dan Le Batard Show last year, Barkley shared that he left a staggering amount of $100 Million “on the table” to stick with Turner Sports when the future of Inside the NBA was not so sure.

Barkley’s decision followed TNT being excluded from the NBA’s 11-year media rights deal, a move that had put many jobs at Warner Bros. Discovery’s sports division at risk. “The No. 1 thing for me is my people from Turner get to keep their jobs for at least another year,” Chuck said. “That’s all I was concerned with.”

While his contract allowed him to walk away, Barkley chose loyalty over lucrative offers from other networks. Reflecting on those offers, he admitted it felt good to be wanted, but ultimately, the people at Turner came first. Yep, that’s how much he shows concern for others’ job security. So his reaction to the firing of local metrologists by Allen Media Group was warranted.