Petition Demands CNN Apologize For “Disgusting” Steubenville Rape Coverage
A flurry of online backlash erupted this weekend over how CNN covered the Steubenville rape trial.
1. CNN came under fire for sympathetic statements it made regarding the two men convicted of raping a young woman in Steubenville, Ohio, summed up in this macro, which has almost 3,000 shares on Facebook:
2. A petition was launched demanding CNN apologize, and it’s already two-thirds of the way to its goal:
3. From the petition page:
While reporting on the verdict and sentencing of the two Steubenville rapists, the CNN news personalities told us repeatedly how difficult it was to watch these boy’s lives being destroyed. How their crime will haunt them.
These criminals destroyed their own lives, when they decided to repeatedly rape an incapacitated girl. When they decided to film and share their horrific crime.
Not once did CNN mention the person whose life was most destroyed by their crime, who will also be haunted for life by their crime… their victim. The young girl who they violated and raped.
Not once while they discussed the pain and humiliation these vicious and cruel criminals now face, did they acknowledge that her life was also destroyed, by them. That she would have to carry around the pain, humiliation, self doubt and self loathing, the stigma of rape, for the rest of her life. Not once did the CNN pundits mention the pain and humiliation these criminals repeatedly inflicted on their victim.
Not once.
The media, and it’s personalities have a huge rule to play in shaping public opinion and public perception. With that role comes an equall responsibility to ensure they use that role for the good of society.
CNN’s coverage of that story failed to meet that responsibility. Failed miserably. The on air personalities did nothing more than promulgate rape culture in America. A culture that leads to someone being raped or sexually assaulted every two minutes.
Every Two Minutes.
CNN, We are sure the 97% of rapists who will never spend a day in jail appreciated your sympathetic coverage of these two criminals.
The rest of us did not. We demand an on air apology for your disgustingly biased coverage. Further, we demand that you use your position as a premier news network to focus on changing rape culture in America. Devote an hour long, prime time segment to rape, it’s victims, what can be done to prevent it, and how to change the culture that gives rise to this violent crime.
5. From the video’s description:
CNN broke the news on Sunday of a guilty verdict in a rape case in Steubenville, Ohio by lamenting that the “promising” lives of the rapists had been ruined, but spent very little time focusing on how the 16-year-old victim would have to live with what was done to her.
6. Many have also pointed out CNN’s angle is eerily similar to this clip from The Onion’s Sportsdome on Comedy Central from last year:
7. From the video’s description:
I was a staff writer on the Onion’s show “SportsDome” which aired on Comedy Central in 2011. This is one of the stories we did—full credit to David Iscoe (twitter.com/realhumanbeing) for the idea and script. It could have been produced by the CNN team covering the Steubenville rape verdict.
8. CNN wasn’t alone in sympathizing with the two convicted rapists. The blog Public Shaming has collected some of the more shocking apologist tweets:
12. One of the top posts on Reddit over the weekend was this version of the Captain Hindsight meme:
13. Monday morning, comedian Jim Norton started tweeting at both CNN anchors, Candy Crowly and Poppy Harlow, over their sympathetic Steubenville coverage.
15. BuzzFeed has reached out to CNN and is currently awaiting a statement.
16. UPDATE: An earlier version of this post included a CNN video mentioning the name of the victim. That video has been removed.
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27 Responses So Far
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- mintybliss thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is Win
- marquitar thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is Fail
- marianneheatherd thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is WTF
- TheNorseWitch Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... and thinks it’s !!! & WTF
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- Rachel W. thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is WTF
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- ricardoc5 thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is WTF
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- travizz thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is Trashy, WTF & Ew
- Idgi thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is WTF & Fail
- ariels2 Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... and thinks it’s OMG
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- kristinep4 Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... and thinks it’s Fail, Trashy & Ew
- pengwen Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... and thinks it’s Fail & Trashy
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- spazzme thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is Fail & Trashy
- RandomFlux thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is WTF & Fail
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- jadr Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D...
- isalsayourface Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... and thinks it’s WTF & Fail
- butterflylily thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is WTF
- meggied Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... and thinks it’s WTF
- pax84111 thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is Trashy, WTF & Fail
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nicholem7 2 months agoKayla Jeter or whatever your name is, your a waste of air. Let me guess, women should also not dress inappropriately because they will get raped that way? Are you telling me if a person is passe out on the street and I murder them, that is it there fault? Only people with little or no brain would actually sympathize for those boys. THEY RAPED SOMEONE. End of story. It does not matter the circumstances. The next time your out drinking with your friends and you drink to much, I hope someone comes an punches you in the face and pisses on you. If this ever is to happen, you better not press charges because it will be your fault because you drank too much. I have no faith in society just based of your stupidity alone.
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- Heyaleida Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D...
- kaoriz Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D...
- Pierre Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... and thinks it’s WTF
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- Mongognom thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is WTF
- moirat Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D...
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DIGITALxxMINION 2 months agothey sure did…right before my jaw hit the floor. i’m amazed that all anyone’s asking for is an apology.
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- chinotabularasam thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is WTF
- shalalalalauooo Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D...
- freebeerandhotwings.com readers just made Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... hotter
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leylae 2 months agoPLEASE sit your sons down and explain to them what is rape BEFORE they end up in jail or sued. A drunk or drugged woman cannot legally give her consent. Tell him that a girl might give in to sex, if you push her, bully her, nag and harass her, but that isn’t really consent. This includes for when he grows up, and becomes an authority figure, for example, somebodies teacher or boss or a cop, that it’s wrong to use his position to pressure unwilling women into sex. This seems like common sense, but how many men never had this explained to them?
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KittehsOwnInternetz 2 months ago
Oh, you poor trusting dear. Men don’t CARE that it’s wrong. It’s power and sex combined.
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DIGITALxxMINION 2 months ago
that’s pretty small minded of you to write. these two football players are scumbags and so are those cnn anchors, but it’s got nothing to do with being a man.
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- makattic thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is Fail
- berenice thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is Trashy & Fail
- kelseybrown thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is Win
- Camsean thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is Fail & WTF
- stefani thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is WTF & Fail
- bettymachete thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is WTF
- Muzz Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... and thinks it’s Fail & WTF
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- elizabethd21 Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... and thinks it’s WTF
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- A02 Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... and thinks it’s Fail & WTF
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- tara wendel thinks Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... is WTF
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sandyz3 2 months agothis is ‘news’ that is being run out of the ‘entertainment ’ division, as all news is now relegated . cnn hired an idiot from nbc to remold the anchor line-up to get more ratings ,indicative of what is most important to cnn - not truth , oh no , cash from commercials due to ratings (caused by babbling heads spewing trash )
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- natashao Petition Demands CNN Apologize For "D... and thinks it’s Fail & WTF
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andrewg50 2 months agoIf you don’t like CNN, don’t watch it? They shouldn’t have to apologize because they covered a story a different way than any other station. That’s like letting everyone have cake, then when someone complains that it isn’t chocolate; you berate them for seeing something, or wanting something different. No, fuck you. They showed you the other half, the other 2 lives destroyed. Would you rather have them show you the same crap the other studios were? They all go with the same story, why not something different? Yeah, they fucked up, that doesn’t mean you take away their given rights of humanity. Do not apologize for bringing the entire story, and certainly do not apologize for feeling sorry for another human being.
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DIGITALxxMINION 2 months ago
no, they should not have to apologize. they ought to be fired for saying that poor girl’s name…accidentally (yeah right). really they ought to be charged criminally, but i’m sure that won’t happen.
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nicholem7 2 months ago
Yeah let’s talk about the ruined lives OF TWO RAPISTS. You stupidity is appalling and makes me scared for humanity. They raped a girl, there lives BETTER be ruined, as they should be. CNN covering those boys emotions is THE EXACT SAME is going about it though the hardship of being a murderer instead of covering and mourning the person or people who were murdered. Rape kills people on the inside and damages you for your whole life. Not only did they rape her, THEY PISSED ON HER. Oh and it’s her fault because she was drunk? She was 16…I thinking underage drinking is a tad more acceptable that rape. Yeah, poor them, you fucking idiot.
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EvidenceofAnother 2 months ago
It seems all the 24 hour “news” networks have forgotten that a journalist should be unbiased and report facts not sensationalize opinions.
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lisac53 2 months agoPetition signed. CNN, this is the kind of coverage we expect from Faux News. We really don’t need one, much less two, news outlets with this kind of crap reporting. These boys RAPED and URINATED on the unconscious victim, laughing and hamming it up. CNN, you should be publicly flogged!
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theresamarieg2 2 months agoAs a rape victim, it is horrible enough having to go through a trial let alone a media covered trial. And then to have the “Poor Poor Rapists” crap?! That is exactly why rapists and pedophiles get a slap on the wrist. A sex offender label for life? No where near enough. No where near. This will have a devastating impact on the victim’s life. For ever. It will not go away. But this is what society has become. The rape victim has become the problem. Wake up people. Rape is not a choice. What would you do if your daughter, sister, wife, mom, or any woman or man for that matter, was raped. Would you feel the same? Rape is rape. Period.
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freak dageek 2 months agoYES, your honor, my client DID walk into a crowded college bar and YES, he did start firing indiscriminately at people, killing dozens. But, your honor…they had been drinking. One was wearing a shirt that had what looked a lot like a target on it. So, let’s show my client some leniency. I’m not saying that they were “asking for it,” but don’t people have to have some sort of responsibility for getting themselves into dangerous situations? Drinking in a public place where their inhibitions would be down, where it’s more likely for a gunman to begin shooting, wearing shirts with target-signs on them…aren’t these all just dangerous and avoidable choices? Shouldn’t we really be telling people to stop being in places where anything can happen ever at all? My client’s promising future has been irrevocably damaged, and it is really a shame to see him facing such a loss of personal freedom.
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zombieianbrooks 2 months agoHey guys, just want to make a quick point that one of the more horrifying tweets here: “they did what anybody would have done in their situation” by zJosiah was taken out of context (the rest of his message, in subsequent tweets, was referring to the way they pleaded in court). To prove it, he has been spending the last day personally apologizing to every single person that tweeted at him in disgust. So perhaps the author wants to amend the article (or at least add an annotation to that picture?)
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christopherj6 2 months agoWhat most people don’t realize is that this story was minor news up until a few weeks ago. The “minor” news coverage also included that she was given a date rape drug, that the football coach would buy the players booze, that the sheriff is also the head of a gambling ring in town, that the football players are allowed to go to a certain bar and not get carded, that these boys weren’t nicknamed the “rape crew” because of this isolated incident… it’s happened before. Right now it’s looking like the two who are going to jail “took one for the team” to get the media out of the town’s face.
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Efrog8 2 months ago
Let’s not forget that this story also used to include details about how the situation was “settled out of court” at first and one of the conditions of the settlement was that the victim was not allowed to talk about her rape to anyone. Naturally that pissed her off and she took to social media to out their names to the world. Then she was in legal trouble for going against the terms of the settlement. That’s when the case finally got the trial it deserved. But no one seems to remember that outrageous bit of shaming the victim…
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majorh 2 months agoi agree with you. you left out the fact thet she was set up by her ex boyfriend in this whole affair. he had it in for her. he was the one who invited her to the party. she still trusted him. then, he was the one who slipped her the drug. you also left out that the assistant d.a.’s son was involved in this. she pressured the parents and her to drop the case and just let her “take care” of things. she also said that the girl would be shamed for years to come if she pursued this. damn! these people make me sick! the sick kids and their grown ups!
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