The few-second clip, when put up on Google, generated a flurry of discussion, particularly among users who were knocking WBKO's quality of journalism, discussing their dislike for the local news personalities and their link to the Bowling Green, Ky., community, and some bringing up another situation with Allen and his credibility as a meteorologist based on comments about how global warming is a hoax in comments on his blog.

Other viewers defended Chris' dedication to responding to his fans and interested viewers on e-mail and all the public appearances and work he did. Many, both from the Bowling Green area and elsewhere, expressed their feelings that this was a moment taken out of context and that the person responsible for posting the video was more of an offender than Allen.

The clip, from some time ago, was leaked from someone who at least had been on "the inside," and of course was never meant to be shown. Aside from the substantial popularity the clip had on Google Video, it also appeared on TMZ, along with a story about the situation. The original video description was, ""A local Weatherman in Bowling Green, Kentucky simulates drinking breast milk. WBKO-TV's Chris Allen then licks and grabs a fake boob. Sexual...all obscenity/harassment seems to be accepted and just a "laugh" at Gray Television, Inc."

However, after a few days, the clip vanished from several places. The Google Video page was taken down, and all the information on TMZ was gone. This is the Internet, though, so there are traces of the video all around. In the current age, eliminating information just isn't as easy as it once was. The video was simply referenced and discussed too many places to be eliminated.

WBKO, and Chris Allen, released a statement detailing where they claim the video came from--a prank pulled on Chris, taken out of context, and posted on the Internet by a former weatherman with WBKO. The statement says. "We are taking the inappropriate actions of a few very seriously. Chris has been reprimanded for his actions and we are in discussions with a former employee who left over a year ago who stole the tape and posted it on the internet...The tape is embarrassing, offensive and certainly does not represent the Hometown values WBKO is known for."

But it also raises questions about copyrighted material. Some might feel that this video, once leaked, was not part of the "official" broadcast for a show and therefore could be shown elsewhere--especially if it came from inside the studio. Others, and the station I'm sure, feel that the video had no right to be shown or leaked, its inappropriateness aside.

There's no question that the situation was embarrassing for those who were offended by it, the station, and Allen. What I think is more instructive here are the questions this raises about privacy online, copyrighted material from "off-the-air" moments, and the rights a public figure has to contain what might be considered private moments.

While the original video posting is gone, there are still several versions floating around on other sites that copied it from its original source.

Update: The video appeared on VH1's Best Week Ever on Friday, ensuring that this will remain in the public eye, and as part of the blogosphere discussion, into the future. I know that it's already become the most popular post here on the C3 blog for the week.