Recently, Tucker Carlson engaged his viewers in a thought exercise. What would it look like if people who didn’t wear masks outdoors gave self-appointed mask scolds a taste of their own medicine?
Tucker Carlson is now telling his audience to harass people who wear face masks outside.
If they see children wearing masks, Tucker says the response should be no different than when you see a kid being abused — "call the police immediately, contact child protective services" pic.twitter.com/4svVH0JY3s
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) April 27, 2021
It should go without saying that no, you should not, in fact call the police or CPS on parents with kids in masks outdoors. It should also go without saying that Tucker Carlson is not, in fact, seriously telling his viewers to do that.
And it should also go without saying that Carlson’s point was lost on a lot of media firefighters, who are just relieved that Carlson has given them another reason to clutch their pearls.
Here’s Washington Post media critic Erik Wemple, who took the bait like a charm:
Fox News host @tuckercarlson last night urged people to call child protective services if they see kids wearing masks at play. So I've sent inquiries to about 15 state-level child-protection agencies across the country. 1/
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) April 28, 2021
Just to see if people are acting upon the host's instructions. Thus far, Alabama and Texas have reported back, saying they've either not had any such calls or are unaware of any. 2/
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) April 28, 2021
Recommended
I'll keep sending out inquiries and update this thread as responses start rolling/trickling in. I am curious as to how Carlson's audience interprets his exhortations. 3/
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) April 28, 2021
Georgia: "Our agency has not received any reports of that nature." 4/
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) April 28, 2021
Delaware "has not received any calls regarding children wearing or being forced to wear masks." 5/
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) April 28, 2021
"New York State’s Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment has not received any calls regarding children wearing or being forced to wear masks."
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) April 28, 2021
Statement from Minnesota Department of Human Services: pic.twitter.com/vrsj41CaP3
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) April 28, 2021
Statement from New Jersey: pic.twitter.com/EyQRfdiEnz
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) April 28, 2021
Great journalisming, Erik!
Y’all know he was joking, right? https://t.co/PHqlkRM4as
— Matthew D. Dempster (@dempstermd) April 28, 2021
Possible that his TV audience is better attuned to when he's joking than his twittter audience, are….? This was much Trump's connection to fans — half the joke is knowing the media won't get it.
— Ben Smith (@benyt) April 28, 2021
Looks like Tucker Carlson (and Donald Trump) calculated correctly.
Yes, that is possible, but have a look at what he said (below). My experience with Fox News viewers based on years of interviewing is that they believe their favorite hosts. pic.twitter.com/9WrZiJOllT
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) April 28, 2021
Bless your heart, Erik.
Just as a general proposition, I'd say it's a good idea never to joke about calling child-protective services on anyone.
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) April 28, 2021
Bless it so much.
https://t.co/3tztZSWw0O pic.twitter.com/abWP9L5tGz
— Matt Cover (@MattCover) April 28, 2021
So… nobody did the thing I was told to panic about? https://t.co/YAeqVogxdK
— Get vaccinated if you want (@jtLOL) April 28, 2021
Nice work if you can get it.
You're O-15 so far 6 calls in. If you were an NFL coach you'd be fired by now. https://t.co/hCPCPzH81t
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) April 28, 2021
This thread is just one self own after another. It's wild.
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) April 28, 2021
"Tucker said last night on his show to millions of his viewers that the media eats dookie. So, today I called writers at NYT, Vox, and The Atlantic to find out if they do."
— Ese (@EseConActitud) April 28, 2021
Remember when all the MAGA-heads were going to inject bleach because Trump told them to? (He didn't tell them to, but whatever.) But then they didn't? Same deal here. Wemple et al. won't learn anything from it, because stoking panic is the only thing keeping media afloat anymore.
— Get vaccinated if you want (@jtLOL) April 28, 2021
If the end result of Tucker's rant was sending dipshits like Erik off in search of anecdotal evidence that anyone took his suggestion seriously, it will have been well worth it. https://t.co/7uR7QDgDtL
— Christy (@NoDramaGal) April 28, 2021
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Related:
MSNBC panelist and FBI alumnus says Tucker Carlson’s mask comments could be a ‘nexus to violence’
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