(Credit: Twitter/21 Royal Street, screenshot, highlight added)
ABC News aired a live stream showing aerial footage of Robin Williams’ house last night.
ABC News issued a statement to TV Newser saying it took down the stream because “there was no news value.” ABC said:
“When we realized there was no news value to the live stream, we took it down immediately. Our intention was not to be insensitive to his family, friends and fans, and for that we apologize.”
Below see a screenshot of the ABC News’ banner on its website about the aerial footage.
Srsly ABC News? #RobinWilliams pic.twitter.com/vVHEk5d0EX
— Sydney Smith (@SSmithWriter) August 12, 2014
KGO ABC7 News also aired the “live aerials” of Williams’ home.
The station received numerous negative tweets accusing the statement of being disrespecful and insensitive.
@abc7newsBayArea You’re free to do what you like, but what’s the probative value in airing such footage? How are these aerial shots “news?”
— Walter Thompson (@YourProtagonist) August 12, 2014
@abc7newsBayArea WTF, Seriously? Give them some peace.
— isla (@Nashramento) August 12, 2014
.@abc7newsBayArea Just.. Stop. There’s nothing newsworthy about the roof of a house. Please stop and let his family grieve in peace..
— Tim Duncan is my dad (@homerj79) August 12, 2014
@abc7newsBayArea WTF, Seriously? Give them some peace.
— isla (@Nashramento) August 12, 2014
@abc7newsBayArea really? Shame on you. His family deserve privacy.
— Patricia (@littlesrule) August 12, 2014
See more tweets below:
Tweets about “abc news aerial”
iMediaEthics has reached out to ABC News and Williams’ representatives for comment.
See all of iMediaEthics’ stories on media coverage of Williams’ death.
