As nightly protests continue to occur in Kenosha, Wisconsin following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, CNN is facing backlash over its coverage. On Tuesday night, as Kenosha entered a third evening of protests, CNN national correspondent Omar Jimenez reported live from the scene, with a chyron at the bottom of the screen reading, “FIERY BUT MOSTLY PEACEFUL PROTESTS AFTER POLICE SHOOTING.”
CNN sure can turn a phrase! “Fiery but mostly peaceful.” pic.twitter.com/pFpFYQtIbh
— Mike (@Doranimated) August 27, 2020
Protests have been ongoing ever since officer Rusten Sheskey shot Blake at point-blank range seven times in the back. The incident was caught by a bystander, with the footage quickly going viral and sparking unrest. In response, protesters have been taking to the streets, with some demonstrations resulting in damage to buildings. Multiple vehicles have also been set on fire. On Tuesday night, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse reportedly opened fire on protesters with an AR-15, killing two and injuring a third. He had traveled to Kenosha from Antioch, Illinois. Blake’s family, meanwhile, has called for peaceful demonstrations.
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CNN‘s chyron set against a fiery backdrop immediately drew criticism, with some social media users slamming the network for how they are covering the events unfolding in Kenosha. Scroll on to see the reaction to CNN‘s coverage.
You cannot make this up… A CNN reporter is standing in front of a building engulfed in flames and CNN’s chyron reads:
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) August 27, 2020
“FIERY BUT MOSTLY PEACEFUL PROTESTS AFTER POLICE SHOOTING” pic.twitter.com/4OHvKnh63u
I sure would not want to go to this peaceful place!
— Em36561 (@em36561) August 27, 2020
Best thing about CNN’s chyrons is I can get my laughs without turning on the volume.
— Tim Schumacher (@tjschu) August 27, 2020
Fiery does not equal ‘mostly peaceful’ in my book. Another CNN fail
— nunya_d. bizness (@curegirl69) August 27, 2020
“FIERY BUT MOSTLY PEACEFUL”
— Orwell & Goode (@OrwellNGoode) August 27, 2020
Is this real life? pic.twitter.com/le9YetFweq
FIERY BUT MOSTLY PEACEFUL 🔥
— Fiery But Mostly Poso 🔥 (@JackPosobiec) August 27, 2020
FIERY BUT MOSTLY PEACEFUL 🔥
FIERY BUT MOSTLY PEACEFUL 🔥
FIERY BUT MOSTLY PEACEFUL 🔥
They actually put “fiery but mostly peaceful” on the screen.
— Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) August 27, 2020
pic.twitter.com/n3HBPOG3cF
The Most 2020 headline you’ll ever read…
— Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) August 27, 2020
“Fiery but mostly peaceful…” 🤣 https://t.co/1Lj6lfqbLU
It’s literally like in the movie Airplane😳🙄 pic.twitter.com/CWNcB9NCA1
— DixieChick4Trump✝️🇺🇸⚓️ (@TrumpThatBitch1) August 27, 2020
Hell is a fiery but mostly peaceful place
— Scott Greer 6’2” IQ 187 (@ScottMGreer) August 27, 2020
So peaceful, I feel the need to whip out the toasting forks and marshmallows and sing Kum Bah Yah. pic.twitter.com/4RCIXJpfPG
— WEAR A MASK! #IdentifyingAsDanielRadcliffe (@WaitingWriter) August 27, 2020
Peaceful fires ….hot…but peaceful
— Jay Morris (@JayJaymorris3) August 27, 2020
It was probably just CNN doing an homage to the ‘Naked Gun’ movies. . . pic.twitter.com/9v4dNPxWZl
— Finger the News (@fingerthenews) August 27, 2020
Fiery, but mostly peaceful pic.twitter.com/K7ZYzUBBjV
— icanteven (@Tweetweetbeyoch) August 27, 2020