Because that’s how NBC rolls.
Last night Twitchy told you about some of the idiocy that sent #NBCFail trending once again. But this one deserves its own post.
An NBC exec said the network aired the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics on tape-delay to give the event the “context” and “pageantry it deserves.” In addition to the “context” of calling decades of communism a “pivotal experiment,” Deadspin reports that NBC made this editorial decision for American viewers:
NBC edits out IOC chief's statement critical of Russian policy toward gays http://t.co/zw09xqFWrw
— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) February 8, 2014
Was that for “context” or “pageantry”? More from Deadspin:
Russia’s anti-gay laws have been a major focus in the lead-up to the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, and during his address at today’s opening ceremony IOC president Thomas Bach made a strong statement against “any form of discrimination” and in favor of tolerance. Viewers worldwide heard the statement; NBC viewers in the U.S. did not, because the network edited it out.
Deadspin has video and a transcript of Bach’s address with the scrubbed portion included.
Boy did NBC make a colossally disgraceful, despicable decision here. Stomach-churning Putin suck-uppery. http://t.co/j19s54qxow
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) February 8, 2014
I can't wait to hear all the talent on MSNBC denouncing this. http://t.co/j19s54qxow
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) February 8, 2014
https://twitter.com/atlantatony/status/432160439951040512
https://twitter.com/kendersrule/status/432056692348841984
https://twitter.com/JimmyPrinceton/status/432150804888182786
NBC does Pravda proud, censors replay for American audience http://t.co/ejCnUGrJCP
— Yo (@yo60640) February 8, 2014
https://twitter.com/dtwohig/status/432138725565661184
@NBCOlympics Really? Time Constraints? You should have made time for this! Crap like this is why people hate NBC! http://t.co/5mo9DWC7j3
— Magdeleena (@Magdeleena) February 8, 2014
Wow @nbc, this is pretty bad. http://t.co/6zQRHDiXUj #Olympics
— Brian Faughnan (@BrianFaughnan) February 8, 2014
Oblique homage to 1984 "@jpodhoretz: I can't wait to hear all the talent on MSNBC denouncing this. http://t.co/6zQRHDiXUj”
— Brian Faughnan (@BrianFaughnan) February 8, 2014
@jpodhoretz: This goes beyond "useful idiocy". The Ministry of Truth is alive and well at 30 Rock.
— Commodore Matt Decker, MIA (@CdreMattDecker) February 8, 2014
#rsrh So why is NBC participating in a whitewash of Russia's awful anti-gay policies? http://t.co/8TJrNUNhbG #secondworld #sochi
— Moe Lane (@Ogiel23) (@moelane) February 8, 2014
When the IOC trumps you on morality, NBC, you know you're in deep trouble. http://t.co/EUPJ1DTYTr
— Julie Roginsky (@julieroginsky) February 8, 2014
Related:
NBC cuts Olympics tribute to 7/7 victims; airs Michael Phelps interview instead
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