Last night brought with it news that actor Anthony Rapp had accused Kevin Spacey of making unwanted sexual advances toward him when he was 14-years-old and Spacey was 26. In a statement posted to social media after the allegations became public, Spacey said he doesn’t remember the encounter, but wrote that “it would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.” Spacey also wrote that he chooses “now to live as a gay man.” After such serious an allegation, what was ABC News’ takeaway from Spacey’s statement?
Wait. This is how @abcnews frames the Kevin Spacey issue? What??? Cc @yashar pic.twitter.com/6jsRquNHEg
— Brandon Darby (@brandondarby) October 30, 2017
That’s @abc. Sorry, Aussies (@abcnews) https://t.co/7bJc9RYfkk
— Brandon Darby (@brandondarby) October 30, 2017
The author of the story wasn’t happy with that headline:
uh… @IAM_Karma please explain this?
— Brandon Keating (@BrandonTalks) October 30, 2017
I feel you…I pointed to comments like yours when I asked my editor to revert to my original headline, which probably sucked, but still.
— Karma Allen (@iam_karma) October 30, 2017
If your editor needs an example on the proper framing: pic.twitter.com/NrVOPA5Azx
— Brandon Keating (@BrandonTalks) October 30, 2017
ABC News’ got slammed hard for that headline approach:
"I choose now to live as a Gay Pedophile" is more like it. I doubt if folks that identify as Homosexual like being lumped in with Pedophiles
— Darren Manci (@DarrenManci) October 30, 2017
This is irresponsible of @abcnews to frame the story this way. He was accused of sexually assaulting a 14 year old boy! https://t.co/NQN5TVm5fm
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) October 30, 2017
Cheesy fries, @abcnews. He molested a 14 year old and this is what you get from the story? https://t.co/JEcaQnZCkn
— Jugular Garrett (@jaredgarrett) October 30, 2017
"Emotional tweet"??? omg you guys are disgusting @abcnews https://t.co/6eOEyaBdR7
— 🍒 (@NomieThwala) October 30, 2017
I predicted they would cover for him. https://t.co/0UYoHAAzxX
— 🕊️The Ivory Dove💎 (@IvoryDove) October 30, 2017
Let it not be lost that Spacey using his homosexuality to frame sexually preying on children is promoting a reprehensible narrative 1/ https://t.co/6V5pdaxGGH
— Madison (@madsdoesstuff) October 30, 2017
Jesus. Spin fully achieved in less than an hour. That's disgusting. https://t.co/1yzR2hhixq
— Scott Wereborg (@scottEweinberg) October 30, 2017
The statement was issued because someone accused Spacey of molesting them when they were 14…stop trying to deflect away sexual assault https://t.co/iNlSeUNDCt
— Joe Winn (@Joe_Will_Winn) October 30, 2017
This is abominable
Next level #fakenews from @ABC https://t.co/zJKfrkz7mR
— YagamiFire (@johndavidson83) October 30, 2017
ABC News has since taken a different approach:
Kevin Spacey apologizes, comes out as gay after allegation of sexual advance on a 14-year-old. https://t.co/m4dOEGmziF pic.twitter.com/GpW2ubgvuq
— ABC News (@ABC) October 30, 2017
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Related:
Anthony Rapp shares remarks about allegations on Twitter after Spacey posts statement
OMG. Did Seth MacFarlane and ‘Family Guy’ warn us about Kevin Spacey?!
