CNN–HanAssholeSolo controversy

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. CNN was accused of blackmailing a Reddit user when they implied that they might reveal the identity of the user if he continued to post inflammatory content.

The incident was widely criticized across the political spectrum, due to it being seen as blackmail and an attack on his pro-Trump views. It was considered a "cyber jihad" and "targeted harassment" by commentators.[1]

Background

On July 2, 2017, President Donald Trump posted an animated video of a WWE match that starred Trump and his opponent who had a CNN logo placed over his face. The video shows Trump bodyslamming and repeatedly punching the individual on the ground. On July 4, 2017 CNN published a story titled "How CNN found the Reddit user behind the Trump wrestling GIF"[2], which labeled Reddit user "HanAssholeSolo" as the creator of the viral video. In the article published by CNN, the author Andrew Kaczynski explains the process that allowed the organization to discover the identity of the user. After which the user posted an apology to CNN, including apologies for previous Reddit postings that could be taken as well as containing "racist, Islamophobic, and anti-Semitic language and imagery" on the Reddit group r/The_Donald. Immediately afterwards, his apology was locked and deleted by the subreddit's moderators[2][3][4] while the user deleted his Reddit account.[5][6] After confirming the identity of the Reddit user, HanAssholeSolo expressed his unwillingness for his name to be released to the public, to which CNN responded with the statement "CNN is not publishing "HanA**holeSolo's" name because he is a private citizen who has issued an extensive statement of apology, showed his remorse by saying he has taken down all his offending posts, and because he said he is not going to repeat this ugly behavior on social media again. In addition, he said his statement could serve as an example to others not to do the same. CNN reserves the right to publish his identity should any of that change."[2]

Reaction

CNN was subsequently accused of blackmailing the user, and the #CNNblackmail hashtag began to trend worldwide on Twitter.[7] Meanwhile, Madison Malone Kircher of New York magazine opined that CNN could've avoided the internet vigilantism if the final line hadn't been included.[8] Vox reporter German Lopez tweeted: "I can't emphasize how bad this is on CNNs part. This is basically 'don't post stuff we don't like or we'll dox you.' Extremely unethical."[9] Kaczynski responded by stating that the line was "misinterpreted" and that the user said that he was not threatened prior to his apology.[10] Internet political commentators Ben Shapiro, Dave Rubin, Paul Joseph Watson, Brittany Pettibone, and others also gave criticism on the incident.[11]

See also

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.