Tag: gaffe

CNN’s parent company CEO says pandemic is “really good for ratings”

by Allan, posted in CNN

WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, the executive who oversees CNN, stepped in it today. In a keynote speech at a virtual tech conference Thursday, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar told attendees that the coronavirus pandemic is “really good for ratings.”

In a foolish statement, Kilar said, “It turns out the pandemic is a pretty big part of the news cycle and that’s not going away any time soon . . . It turns out it’s really good for ratings.”

After his remarks were reported, the WarnerMedia executive walked them back. “I absolutely should have said it differently. I am sorry. I was attempting to communicate that we as a team wake up each day seeking to deliver more value to fans (through lower prices and/or more great stories). Because that matters to everyone, as it should. I am very sorry.”

Jeffrey Toobin caught masturbating and on leave, “probably” will return to CNN

by Allan, posted in CNN


CNN chief legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin is taking some time off from CNN after he was spotted masturbating during a Zoom call with the New Yorker, where he is a staffer writer.

In a rather bizarre statement, he told Vice, “I made an embarrassingly stupid mistake, believing I was off-camera. I apologize to my wife, family, friends and co-workers. I believed I was not visible on Zoom. I thought no one on the Zoom call could see me. I thought I had muted the Zoom video.”

The New Yorker suspended Toobin, and CNN granted Toobin some time off.

However, Toobin will “probably” return to CNN’s air as its legal pontificator, Fox News reports. Toobin is “one of the biggest faces on the network” and “too valuable of a commodity” to let go.

Christi Paul apologizes for saying “gypped”

by Allan, posted in CNN

1280_1x9lcisp1vcuCNN’s New Day Weekend anchor Christi Paul apologized for saying “gypped” on-air on Twitter when someone called her out for doing so, citing the “stigma attached to being Roma/Gypsies.” As NPR noted, “the term [gypped] carries many negative connotations.”

On Twitter, a viewer said to Paul, “Please don’t use the word “g**ped.” There is so much stigma attached to being Roma/Gypsies, and this just rubs salt in the wound, much like “j*wed” does.”

Paul responded and apologized. “I genuinely apologize for using that word. I didn’t realize the weight it carries but I do now. I learn every day & yesterday was no exception.” She added, “When I’m wrong I’ll always admit it. It’s part of being human but it’s also part of learning. I tell my kids there’s no such thing as perfect. Including people.”

CNN meteorologist got photo-bombed on international TV . . . inside his house

by Allan, posted in CNN, Video

No biggie — CNN International meteorologist Derek Van Dam’s three-year-old daughter photo-bombed his 2am weather hit.

Van Dam’s hit went downhill from there, where he began laughing, totally shocked by his daughter’s appearance (as the image above indicates).

Watch:

CNN now “embarrassed” by Cuomo’s Fredo flap, insiders say

by Allan, posted in CNN

Although CNN management very publicly supported CNN star anchor Chris Cuomo after a video surfaced of him threatening to “fucking ruin your shit”, the rank-and-file employees were said to be “embarrassed” by the anchor’s blow-up.

A man came up to Cuomo at a bar and called him “Fredo,” which is obviously not the anchor’s name. Cuomo got upset that the Godfather reference was a racial slur “like the ‘N-word’” for Italian Americans and called him “a punk-ass bitch.”

An insider told Page Six that Cuomo would get a pass from higher-ups because “he’s BFFs with [CNN Worldwide president Jeff] Zucker.”

Another insider told Page Six the newsroom chatter was that “everyone thinks it’s fine to stand up to trolls, but it escalated way past where it needed to.” While they said Cuomo generally has a good reputation with the staff, “It was embarrassing.” They added, “It was an unforced error, and he gave the right — and the president — ammunition to use against him and CNN.”

CNN, for its part, said, “Chris Cuomo defended himself when he was verbally attacked with the use of an ethnic slur in an orchestrated setup. We completely support him.”

CNN photo editor resigns over anti-Semitic tweets

by Allan, posted in CNN

Mohammed Elshamy has been with CNN about six months — and that’s all longer it’ll be.

Elshamy was, as of about an hour ago, a CNN photo editor based in the network’s headquarters in Atlanta. Earlier today, old tweets resurfaced of the photographer, saying awful, anti-Semitic things, such as calling people “Jewish pigs,” as well as celebrating a terrorist attack in 2011 at a bus stop in Jerusalem, as reported by Mediaite.

Under pressure, he has resigned.

In a statement provided to CNN’s Brian Stelter, a spokesperson with the network said, “The network has accepted the resignation of a photo editor, who joined CNN earlier this year, after anti-Semitic statements he’d made in 2011 came to light.”

CNN dropped Mark Geragos amid reporting he is Michael Avenatti’s unnamed co-conspirator in extortion charge

by Allan, posted in CNN

CNN announced it no longer has well-known Hollywood attorney and fixer Mark Geragos on its payroll as a legal commentator amid widespread reporting that he was the unnamed co-conspirator in Michael Avenatti’s extortion charge against Nike. Avenatti rose to stardom defending Stormy Daniels.

“Mark Geragos is no longer a CNN contributor,” a spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter on Monday.

“Mr. Avenatti and Mr. Geragos, the alleged co-conspirator, met with lawyers for Nike in New York on March 19 and threatened to release damaging information unless the company agreed to pay the two lawyers millions of dollars and another $1.5 million to the client Avenatti claimed to represent,” the Wall Street Journal reports of the complaint filed against Avenatti.

CNN noted Geragos was not charged with a crime.

Geragos didn’t return CNN’s request for comment.

CNN’s Rick Santorum apologizes for use of profanity on-air

by Allan, posted in CNN, Video

CNN senior political commentator Rick Santorum has issued an apology for using profanity while on a panel discussion this morning on New Day. The former U.S. Senator and 2016 presidential candidate was defending Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, saying that it was “bullshit” to imply he didn’t remember sexually assaulting Christine Blasey Ford due to blacking out.

He said there were “no excuses” for his profane language, but that he stood by the substance of what he was arguing.