CNN correspondent Elise Labott has been suspended for two weeks following a social media kerfuffle. During her coverage of Congress’ passage of a bill, which will pause U.S. acceptance of Syrian refugees, Labott expressed her opinion. She tweeted, “House passes bill that could limit Syrian refugees. Statue of Liberty bows head in anguish.” Such statements tend to spill out frequently on-air and are rarely protested, but Labott’s words were retweeted across the Internet. Her Twitter handle includes “CNN,” so some people took Labott’s words as representative of her employer.
Washington Post reporter Erik Wemple took CNN to task in an article that called out the cable news network’s alleged bias as a result of this tweet. Wemple requested a response from CNN, and he received one. The network suspended Labott for two weeks, and she apologized for editorializing.
Everyone, It was wrong of me to editorialize. My tweet was inappropriate and disrespectful. I sincerely apologize.
— Elise Labott (@EliseLabott) November 20, 2015
CNN’s decision has caused more of a furor than Labott’s initial tweet, which has been retweeted 3,000 times and favorited 5,000 times. As a result, Twitter has largely criticized CNN for suspending a reporter who expressed empathy. With a loaded, highly partisan issue like the Syrian refugee crisis, opinions are flying high on both ends of the spectrum. Many outspoken tweeters express support for Labott and disgust towards CNN.
https://twitter.com/jchaltiwanger/status/667731550084165632
CNN reporter @eliselabottcnn was suspended for this tweet. Expressing basic morality is impermissible and punishablehttps://t.co/H9srC5BCWP
— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) November 20, 2015
@eliselabottcnn actually, that first tweet was spot on.
— Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) November 20, 2015
Hey Jeff Zucker, your problem is obvious. #EliseLabott @eliselabottcnn @CNN pic.twitter.com/0Bar7eRFkz
— Moe Davis (U.S. Air Force, Retired) (@ColMoeDavis) November 20, 2015
https://twitter.com/jesseberney/status/667509649541865472
https://twitter.com/onekade/status/667504431718490112
.@eliselabottcnn You apologized for this? Fox News purposely spews misinformation to support their narrative, and backs their propaganda.
— Matty Ice (@MattyIceUSA) November 20, 2015
@eliselabottcnn Not disrespectful at all. I am sure Liberty is saddened by this turn of history. We never learn. I am saddened by CNN action
— TulsaTeresa (@TulsaTeresa) November 20, 2015
https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/667569247992745984
https://twitter.com/TwitSister1/status/667768902999408640
There are also a number of folks who believe Labott overstepped with her initial tweet. Howard Kurtz was “stunned,” and that’s only the beginning.
I was stunned that Elise Labott, a CNN reporter, would tweet about Statue of Liberty hanging its head after Syrian refugee bill passed
— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) November 20, 2015
https://twitter.com/JohnJJohnsonMN/status/667427103344848897
https://twitter.com/andycapp1986/status/667768497364045824
https://twitter.com/FonzUSA1/status/667769395989471232
https://twitter.com/PlanetRedbone/status/667770275484803073