#CNNBlackmail: Network blasted for ‘threatening’ Trump meme creator
CNN is being accused of blackmail and coercion after it seemingly threatened to expose the creator of the CNN meme recently shared by US President Donald Trump.
When Trump shared a meme of him wrestling a man with CNN’s logo for a head, the news organization accused the president of encouraging “violence against reporters.”
Now, CNN has been accused of both threatening and blackmailing the creator of the wrestling meme.
CNN’s KFile’ discovered the real identity of the Reddit user credited with creating the meme, HanA**holeSolo, and tried to contact him. The meme creator then apologized on Reddit, saying he doesn’t advocate violence against the media. According to CNN, he then got in touch with KFile and asked not to be named.
CNN after seeing #CNNBlackmail is a top trend pic.twitter.com/Ty65XafXNr
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) July 5, 2017
#CNNBlackmail
— Robbie Jaeger (@RobletoFire) July 5, 2017
CNN: "What's todays headline? Healthcare? Russia?"
Inner CNN: "A 15 y.o. Redditor made a sick meme about us. Lawyer up." pic.twitter.com/sPc75zNDj4
CNN tracks a 15 year old meme maker down in a few days but can't prove Russia conspiracy in over a year. #CNNBlackmail
— Randy Newton (@threezeroleft) July 5, 2017
CNN said it won’t publish his name “because he is a private citizen who has issued an extensive statement of apology,” adding that “CNN reserves the right to publish his identity should any of that change.”
As #CNNBlackmail began trending on Twitter, the network’s ethics were called into question, with many criticizing CNN for crossing a line.
.@CNN feeling the heat with #CNNBlackmail over their controversial expose of @realDonaldTrump meme creator. pic.twitter.com/quNoOCn4Cz
— Noel Byrne (@noelbyrne) July 5, 2017
@CNN U basically coerce apology & threaten release of identity if something changes? Pretty sure a line is crossed here. #CNNBlackmailhttps://t.co/k4W9AepP6W
— Scott Taylor (@Scotttaylorva) July 5, 2017
I can't emphasize how bad this is on CNN's part. This is basically "don't post stuff we don't like or we'll dox you." Extremely unethical. pic.twitter.com/5bJZIZasH0
— German Lopez (@germanrlopez) July 5, 2017
This is not okay. This is not even close to okay. https://t.co/Pr7yojcW1T
— Palmer Luckey (@PalmerLuckey) July 5, 2017
If anyone tried to do what CNN just did on reddit, twitter or almost any online community - they would get instanstly banned. #CNNBlackmailpic.twitter.com/JbtRNPDUYK
— Murad Gazdiev (@MuradGazdiev) July 5, 2017
Count me among those that find's CNNs veiled doxing threat to Han Assh*leSolo very, very ethically shaky. pic.twitter.com/2KwfJV6Ap9
— Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) July 5, 2017
It took CNN 24 hours to fire Kathy Griffin for her assassination porn, but they threaten a kid for a harmless wrestling meme? #CNNBlackmail
— Stefan Molyneux (@StefanMolyneux) July 5, 2017
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange accused the network of “blackmailing a private citizen,” saying “it is not journalism.”
When Trump goes low CNN goes lower: threatens to dox artist behind "CNN head" video if he makes fun of them again https://t.co/Ka4R1fFEWapic.twitter.com/82eWSmWtLf
— Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) July 5, 2017
A multi-billion dollar TV network blackmailing a private citizen into not making funny videos about it is not journalism, CNN. #CNNBlackmail
— Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) July 5, 2017
Assange also pointed to a number of laws he says CNN has violated, including coercion under the New York criminal code, and federal felony violations of the 1st Amendment.
CNN also appears to have committed a federal felony violation of 18 U.S. Code § 241 in relation to the 1st Amendmenthttps://t.co/Ij06te1Bcrpic.twitter.com/AFt8RJyHsW
— Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) July 5, 2017
CNN also appears to have committed a federal felony violation of 18 U.S. Code § 241 in relation to the 1st Amendment https://t.co/Ij06te1Bcrpic.twitter.com/NbeYUSRuHN
— Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) July 5, 2017
CNN just committed a crime violating § 135.60 of the New York criminal code "coercion" https://t.co/FwPPlczPRhhttps://t.co/AHQhjDS6dspic.twitter.com/a7HAdMQQDV
— Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) July 5, 2017
He also reminded his followers that the network falsely told its audience in October that reading WikiLeaks’ releases was illegal.
CNN fake news: It is illegal for the public to read @WikiLeaks--so you'll just have to watch CNN read it for you https://t.co/AhMMcAY8QF
— Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) June 27, 2017
As the meme war raged, CNN’s behavior left people wondering whether the network would expose them too.
Hey @CNN, do you like this meme? Will you blackmail me? #CNNBlackmail#CNNisISISpic.twitter.com/st0b2TnlbQ
— Ian Brottman (@IanBrottman) July 5, 2017
.@CNN pushes propaganda for 1/2 a year, Trump calls them out, they threaten to doxx a 15 year old, now #CNNBlackmail is trending. Happy 4th! pic.twitter.com/vipoYxDjXE
— Lucian B. Wintrich (@lucianwintrich) July 5, 2017
CNN: Let's blackmail a teenager and then brag to the public about it. #CNNBlackmailpic.twitter.com/g2Onln4Rhc
— Ken Memphis (@kenmemphis21) July 5, 2017
KFile’s Andrew Kaczynski responded to the criticism by tweeting the apparent threat was “misinterpreted.”
This line is being misinterpreted. It was intended only to mean we made no agreement w/the man about his identity. https://t.co/9FL6EvTikx
— andrew kaczynski 🤔 (@KFILE) July 5, 2017
FYI "HanAssholeSolo" just called me."I am in total agreement with your statement. I was not threatened in anyway." https://t.co/7se1B8Z29D
— andrew kaczynski 🤔 (@KFILE) July 5, 2017
“It was intended only to mean we made an agreement w/the man about his identity,” he said, adding the person had called him to say, “I was not threatened in anyway [sic].”
— Drew (@Mobius22_) July 5, 2017
Hostages usually say what they think will please their captors. This is INSANE. https://t.co/ETX0yKj30D
— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) July 5, 2017
