Jennifer Livingston and Ron Livingston. (Screengrab/WENN.com")

Movie star Ron Livingston has come to the defence of his news anchor sister after a Wisconsin native took aim at her weight issues in a mean-spirited letter.

Kenneth Krause took issue with Jennifer Livingston's size and suggested she was setting a bad example to young female viewers, prompting the local newswoman to address his criticism during a broadcast, which became a national news item.

The plus-sized WKBT-TV personality said, "The truth is, I am overweight. You can call me fat - and yes, even obese on a doctor's chart, but to the person who wrote me that letter, do you think I don't know that? That your cruel words are pointing out something that I don't see? You don't know me. You are not a friend of mine. You are not a part of my family."

And now a member of her family - the Office Space star - has added his thoughts on the matter.

In a statement, obtained by People.com, Livingston writes, "My sister Jennifer... brings an exceptional dedication to her job, her family, and her community, and has been a role model of mine for many, many years."