Ex-CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien blasts former network: ‘Why people hate the media’
Former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien took her former network to task on Tuesday blasting a piece by reporter Chris Cillizza on Twitter.
“This terrible analysis by @CillizzaCNN is in part why people hate the media,” she said tweeting out a link to Cillizza’s recent article, “Donald Trump is Producing the Greatest Reality Show Ever.”
The tweet swiftly took off and by Wednesday morning had racked up more than 2,100 retweets and thousands more likes.
This terrible analysis by @CillizzaCNN is in part why people hate the media. https://t.co/xxRcAspyC1
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) March 7, 2018
On Twitter, the much-maligned CNN reporter demanded an explanation from O’Brien for the harsh commentary.
“Hey Soledad! Thanks as always for reading,” he said quote-tweeting the original brutal critique.
Hey Soledad! Thanks as always for reading. https://t.co/XgvHJDgzPy
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) March 7, 2018
The two then engaged in a testy exchange on the platform in which Cillizza said he could not comprehend how someone would dislike the piece if they actually read it and O’Brien put some more meat on the bones of her critique.
“It’s not accurate. It’s not funny. It’s not clever. It’s not analysis. It’s facile,” she said. “It shows an actual lack of understanding of reality tv (can’t believe I’m typing that). It’s mediocre. It’s a time when viewers need to understand what’s going on at the highest levels of govt.”
O’Brien, once a network staple and host of the program “Starting Point,” left CNN in 2013. She declined to offer additional comment to TheWrap, Wednesday.
You can read the play-by-play below:
You’re welcome. You have a big platform, be thoughtful about the stories you tell and how you tell them.
– Soledad O’Brien (@soledadobrien) March 7, 2018
Did you actually read the piece? Or just make assumptions on the headline?
– Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) March 7, 2018
Read the whole thing.
– Soledad O’Brien (@soledadobrien) March 7, 2018
Then I really don’t get your criticism.
– Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) March 7, 2018
The only way my criticism would make sense is if I didn’t read your article? *sigh*.
– Soledad O’Brien (@soledadobrien) March 7, 2018
No. I simply have no idea what your criticism is.
That the piece is “terrible”? I suppose that’s subjective so, ok, I guess.
– Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) March 7, 2018
It’s not accurate. It’s not funny. It’s not clever. It’s not analysis. It’s facile. It shows an actual lack of understanding of reality tv (can’t believe I’m typing that). It’s mediocre. It’s a time when viewers need to understand what’s going on at the highest levels of govt.
– Soledad O’Brien (@soledadobrien) March 7, 2018
Genuinely sorry you feel that way. But appreciate your candor.
– Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) March 7, 2018
For what it’s worth, the actual article from Cillizza more-or-less delivered on the headline.
“The truth is that even Mark Burnett couldn’t create such a high-profile reality show with this much drama, this many personalities and this high of stakes. This is a project only Donald Trump could make happen,” he writes
“Trump is betting that in a few years enough people will vote to renew the show, captivated by what possibly could come around the corner next — whether they can admit to themselves how much they like the show.”
