CNN Slammed For Downplaying Brutal Murder Of American Hostage By Hamas

CNN landed itself in the middle of an uproar regarding how it reported the tragic death of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin-brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists. In its headline, it read, “Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin has died, family confirms via statement,” an apparent choice of words that quickly launched outrage across social media and beyond.

Critics immediately accused CNN of using language to water down the horror of Goldberg-Polin’s death. Among the critics was Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres of New York, who wrote, “Newsflash for the media: Hostages like Hersh Goldberg Polin did not just ‘die.’ They were murdered by Hamas.”

“Words matter because the truth matters,” Torres added in his post to X.

Newsflash for the media:

Hostages like Hersh Goldberg Polin did not just “die.” They were murdered by Hamas.

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Hostages like Noa Argamani were not just “released.” They were rescued by Israel.

The rockets did not just “land” on Druze children and civilians. They were fired… pic.twitter.com/ILPaVX9xEF

— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) September 1, 2024

The backlash forced CNN to change its headline, and now the caption reads: “Israel’s military says six hostages ‘brutally murdered’ in Gaza, including Israeli-American Goldberg-Polin.”

By then, however, the damage was done. Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies called out the network, saying, “Shame on you CNN and all you media outlets that continue to distort the English language to exonerate terrorists and murderers.”

“Has died”. Shame on you CNN and all those media outlets that continue to twist the English language to exonerate terrorists and murderers. https://t.co/PSDnANh0Nb

— Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) September 1, 2024

The outrage continued unabated. Actor and comedian Michael Rappaport weighed in: “Yo CNN is f—ed up! He didn’t just die.”

Yo @cnn is fucked up!
He didn’t just die. pic.twitter.com/Zc5FCPC7zA

— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) September 1, 2024

The watchdog group StopAntisemitism slammed the network for being anti-Semitic, its statement dripping with sarcasm: “CNN misspells ‘murdered.’ This is just embarrassing.”

Hersh Goldberg-Polin was one of six hostages killed by Hamas on Saturday as the Israel Defense Forces closed in for a rescue operation in Gaza’s Rafah tunnels. His tragic end came after suffering unspeakable horrors, including losing part of his arm due to a grenade explosion while being kidnapped during a music festival on October 7. The IDF confirmed that hostages were “brutally murdered” by Hamas terrorists just before Israeli forces could reach them.

Family and friends of Goldberg-Polin had worked ceaselessly for his release, meeting with world leaders including those in the Biden administration.

The White House later confirmed the murders, with President Joe Biden saying he was “devastated and outraged” to learn of Goldberg-Polin’s murder. Yet, hours after the fact, CNN still reported that the hostages had simply “died,” without acknowledging the brutality of the crime.

It only took a day for that, added John Spencer of the Modern War Institute at West Point: “Shame on you CNN. An American hostage in Gaza was savagely murdered by Hamas who kidnapped him from Israel, mutilated him on October 7th and killed him after holding him illegally for over 10 months.”

Shame on you @CNN An American hostage in Gaza was savagely murdered by Hamas who kidnapped him from Israel, mutilated him on October 7th, and killed him after holding him illegally for over 10 months. https://t.co/RlkybWORA9

— John Spencer (@SpencerGuard) September 1, 2024