Boston meteorologist faces backlash over SpaceX splashdown comments

Boston TV meteorologist Pete Bouchard is facing criticism for a comment he made about a recent SpaceX splashdown. After NASA astronauts returned to Earth on March 18, Bouchard suggested on social media that the event had "strong hints of AI enhancement" in its drone footage. His remarks quickly drew backlash from users online, prompting him to delete his original post where he mentioned dolphins surfacing during the splashdown. Bouchard later clarified his comments, stating he was merely intrigued by the visual quality of the landing and curious about the technology used in the drone footage. He highlighted that the splashdown was an impressive feat and did not take away from the astronauts' bravery. However, he maintained his view that the lighting and visuals of the landing seemed almost cinematic. This comment did not sit well with many social media users, who criticized him for implying a conspiracy theory. Some users pointed out that the dolphins were real and that his comments were unfounded. Bouchard responded by acknowledging the dolphins could indeed be real but insisted that the visuals appeared enhanced. He repeated that the splashdown was real but noted it had a polished look that suggested potential video editing. Bouchard, who previously gained attention for humorous remarks on the weather, has over 11,000 followers on Facebook. He later indicated he thought his comment would resonate better with a different audience.