CNN Faces Backlash On Twitter After Appearing To Threaten Reddit User Who Made Anti-CNN, Wrestling GIF
By Cody Derespina, Fox News // July 5, 2017
#CNNBlackmail Trending On Twitter
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(FOX NEWS) – CNN was facing almost universal backlash on Wednesday after running an article on the Reddit user who made an anti-CNN, wrestling-themed GIF tweeted by President Trump over the weekend – and seeming to imply the network would reveal the person’s identity if he reneged on an apology.
Andrew Kaczynski, the senior editor and founding member of the cable network’s KFile investigative team, tweeted several defenses of the article, saying parts were “being misinterpreted.” But #CNNBlackmail was a top trend on Twitter Wednesday morning, as numerous media figures spoke out against the move.
The Reddit user was behind the controversial GIF that Trump tweeted out Sunday — and that showed Trump wrestling an opponent (from his pre-politician days) with a CNN logo plastered over his face. The KFile group found the creator — user name “HanA**holeSolo” — by comparing information posted on Reddit to Facebook profiles. While CNN decided against publishing the user’s real name, the network appeared to attach a caveat to that decision.
“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,” the article stated. “…CNN reserves the right to publish his identity should any of that change.”
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CNN won’t release the name of those who leak National Security Secrets but will release name of kid who hurt their feelings. #CNNBlackmail
— Reconmarine7 (@reconmarine78) July 5, 2017
A multi-billion dollar TV network blackmailing a private citizen into not making funny videos about it is not journalism, CNN. #CNNBlackmail
— Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) July 5, 2017
CNN also appears to have committed a federal felony violation of 18 U.S. Code § 241 in relation to the 1st Amendment https://t.co/Ij06te1Bcr pic.twitter.com/NbeYUSRuHN
— Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) July 5, 2017
#CNNBlackmail: Outrage after network appears to threaten Reddit user https://t.co/mWs0l0GX4A by @CDerespina pic.twitter.com/6LKmEpb8mu
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 5, 2017