CNN came under fire on Monday, November 21, after Jake Tapper’s The Lead ran an onscreen headline that seemed to question whether Jews are people. The headline read, “Alt-Right Founder Questions If Jews Are People.” Tapper, 47, who was on vacation this week, shared his opinion via Twitter.
“I’m furious about that chyron and my staff has heard from me,” the TV anchor, who is Jewish, wrote. “Unacceptable.”
Chief national security correspondent Jim Sciutto was anchoring the show in Tapper’s place. He was speaking about an offensive quote recently made by National Policy Institute President Richard Spencer at a November 19 gathering in Washington, D.C. “One wonders if these people are people at all, or instead soulless golem,” Spencer had said in reference to Jews.
In response to their insensitive banner, a CNN spokesperson released the following statement not long after Monday’s broadcast. “It was poor judgment and we very much regret it and apologize,” the statement read.
Tapper, who is also CNN’s chief Washington correspondent, added in a subsequent tweet: “Believe me I take this very seriously as I’m sure you understand.”
Furious social media users took to Twitter to sound off on CNN’s snafu.
“This just happened on @CNN: Are Jews People?” one astonished viewer wrote, while another lamented: “Here is the segment. That chryon. These times.”
This just happened on @CNN: Are Jews People? pic.twitter.com/SZD4mr1Vqc
— Maia Efrem (@maiaefrem) November 21, 2016
Here is the segment. That chryon. These times. pic.twitter.com/5vXn5GM7ll
— Colin Jones (@colinjones) November 21, 2016
*pinches self*
i’m real! i’m a person!
— Hadas Gold (@Hadas_Gold) November 21, 2016
What is happening. pic.twitter.com/zCb919JVyN
— Alanna Vagianos (@lannadelgrey) November 21, 2016
lots of self-reflection after the election for cable news, i see pic.twitter.com/eonH8ypOmq
— alyssa bereznak (@alyssabereznak) November 21, 2016
