BREAKING: UltraViolet Responds to CNN CEO Chris Licht’s Departure From Network
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, June 7, 2023
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com
BREAKING: UltraViolet Responds to CNN CEO Chris Licht’s Departure From Network
NEW YORK, NY — Moments ago, it was reported that Chris Licht will leave CNN after just 13 months as CEO. Under Mr. Licht’s management, CNN ratings plummeted and the network faced scrutiny for hosting a town hall featuring former President Donald Trump, which allowed Trump to uncritically spew lies and disinformation.
In response to the news, Nicole Regalado, Vice President of Campaigns at UltraViolet, a national women’s advocacy organization that called for CNN to fire Licht in May, issued the following statement:
“Under Chris Licht’s leadership – CNN embraced right-wing conspiracy theorists, platformed misogynists, and gave Donald Trump an unfettered national platform to spew disinformation, hate and attack a survivor of sexual abuse. Licht’s desperate attempt to seize ratings sacrificed his credibility with the real journalists at the network, and with CNN’s viewers – it was right for the network to recognize that and part ways with Licht. It will take time to earn it back.”
“In May, we called on CNN to fire CEO Chris Licht. While the network’s decision factored in several components that led to this, we know that their ratings resulting from a town hall event with Trump were simply not enough. We hope Licht’s departure sends a message to others in the media: embracing right-wing lies and platforming Donald Trump are not a pathway to success.”
“Good riddance.”
Nearly 20,000 UltraViolet members called for Licht to be fired last month. For years, UltraViolet has criticized CNN’s platforming of conspiracy theories and promotion of misogynistic figures.
In February, UltraViolet urged CNN to suspend Don Lemon after Lemon’s sexist on-air comments about women in their “prime.” The network eventually fired Lemon. In 2021, UltraViolet called for the immediate suspension of Chris Cuomo at CNN for advising his brother on how to defeat sexual abuse charges.
UltraViolet also publicly urged CNN to cancel their town hall with Donald Trump. The group commissioned two mobile billboards in Manchester, NH, and Atlanta, GA, to amplify their calls for CNN to cancel the event.
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