Georgia Entertainment Scene

CNN host Jake Tapper hates 'If Jews Are People' chyron

Nov 22, 2016

This was posted Tuesday, November 22, 2016 by Rodney Ho on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

Chyrons are those mini-headlines that cable networks run while commentators and news anchors gab away.

One in particular caught the eye of CNN host Jake Tapper Monday that upset him. It was during a discussion of Donald Trump supporter Richard Spencer, who gave a speech at an alt-right conference on Saturday in which he criticized Jews. The chyron read: "Alt-Right Founder Questions If Jews Are People."

It was a summary of what Spencer said about Jews on Saturday: “One wonders if these people are people at all, or instead soulless golem.”

“I’m off this week and I’m furious about that chyron and my staff has heard from me. Unacceptable,” Tapper wrote on Twitter. “The chyron was abhorrent and I am trying to deal with it. Obviously I take responsibility but my being off is not irrelevant.”

Jim Sciutto, who was guest hosting, also Tweeted his displeasure.

A CNN spokesperson later released this statement: “It was poor judgment and we very much regret it and apologize.”

About the Author

Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.

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