The Washington Post’s Eric Wemple in a piece Thursday lists all of the times CNN hosts declared that podcaster Joe Rogan was taking “horse dewormer” to treat COVID-19: Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper, Don Lemon, Baraki Sellers, and Jim Acosta all referred to ivermectin as a drug meant for livestock, with Acosta saying, “In case you missed it, Rogan said ivermectin. Yes, that’s the deworming medicine made to kill parasites in farm animals and, weirdly, is being promoted by right-wing media figures and even some politicians as a covid treatment.”
CNN’s Sanjay Gupta, who’d appeared on Rogan’s podcast, said the network probably shouldn’t have referred to his drug regimen as horse dewormer, but Wemple reports that CNN has released a statement ripping on Rogan and admitting to nothing.
CNN says that the only thing it did wrong in its Joe Rogan coverage was to 'bruise the ego of a popular podcaster.' Here's why that sidesteps the issue: https://t.co/K9yvL9eYOJ
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) October 21, 2021
Here’s CNN’s statement:
The heart of this debate has been purposely confused and ultimately lost. It’s never been about livestock versus human dosage of Ivermectin. The issue is that a powerful voice in the media, who by example and through his platform, sowed doubt in the proven and approved science of vaccines while promoting the use of an unproven treatment for covid-19 — a drug developed to ward off parasites in farm animals. The only thing CNN did wrong here was bruise the ego of a popular podcaster who pushed dangerous conspiracy theories and risked the lives of millions of people in doing so.
“Risked the lives of millions.”
CNN is the biggest purveyor of disinformation in the country.
— Toby T (@Tobizoid) October 21, 2021
Rogan needs to sue CNN.
— Richard (@fitzalan420) October 21, 2021
In before a bunch of brain dead liberals play dumb about not understanding ivermectin is a common drug made for humans, which is not the same thing as animal grade ivermectin.
— Danny Ocean (@Danny_Oc3an) October 21, 2021
It’s like taking aspirin and CNN saying you’re taking dog de-clotter
— Richard (@fitzalan420) October 21, 2021
I'm pretty sure it's CNN with the bruised ego. Like Joe (or most of us) give a sh*t about what CNN says. They are the dinosaurs looking up at the descending meteor.
— Francis Watts (@Francis_Watts) October 21, 2021
Joe Rogan gave them so much room to apologize, set the record straight and maybe save some dignity. They're so lost, and their abysmal ratings of late are well earned.
— the mouth of truth (@bocchelVerita) October 21, 2021
The intent was always to deceive the viewers. They are professional deceivers.
As a country we must recognize that journalism has turned into activism.
— TimJameson (@TimJamesonUS) October 21, 2021
Rogan might be the new Trump for CNN. They probably got the most views from piggybacking Rogan's success since the Trump years. They will ride this pony into the sunset.
— pertz (@pertz50340654) October 21, 2021
Oh fucking bullshit.
They had a self-agrandizing stunt to go on. They weren't prepared, they treated Rogan like the enemy. Then went on to not correct their errors.
Now they are trying to ingratiate themselves with libs and the left by pretending that they played this well.
— Gero (@GeromeRousabout) October 21, 2021
Such a weak article. So careful to bash Rogan while going giving the most mild, lukewarm criticism of CNN. This article should be titled: “Yes CNN lied, but I still want to be invited to their dinner parties.”
— Moscow Miguel (@silberandgold32) October 21, 2021
the post did basically the same thing you're criticizing CNN for here: sidestepped the difference between a human dose of ivermectin prescribed by a doctor and a livestock formulation, even using a picture of the livestock version for the articlehttps://t.co/rG1LBWNsnc
— duncan idaho stop (@anomicca) October 21, 2021
CNN's coverage is slanted in all instances
— Chiselhead 2 (@aginghunk77) October 21, 2021
They simply don’t get it. You don’t bruise egos by suggesting someone took livestock medication on national television. You’re insulting them and making yourself look like a complete imbecile in the process when they’re viewership is 10x greater plus other coverage media. Dumb
— Sensible Art (@sensibleartaus) October 21, 2021
CNN has no journalistic standards left to defend. Just don’t look.
— BadReboot (@BadReboot) October 21, 2021
CNN knew exactly what they were doing by going with the “horse dewormer” angle, but they won’t admit it. “It’s never been about livestock versus human dosage of Ivermectin” — that’s exactly what it was about.
Related:
'Slam dunk': Tom Elliott's latest supercut absolutely torches the shameless media malpractitioners who slimed Joe Rogan over ivermectin https://t.co/mVC91HaSEH
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 15, 2021
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