(Credit: Fox News)
Fox News used photos of members of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles kneeling on the field, to suggest that they were protesting. But, in fact, the Eagles players were praying. Now, Fox News has apologized for an “error” in using the “unrelated footage.” A Fox News Channel spokesperson told iMediaEthics that the error would be corrected on air tonight.
“The photos ran during a segment on Monday night, after President Trump announced that he had uninvited the reigning Super Bowl champions from a traditional visit to the White House,” CNN reported. Trump’s tweet said the event was canceled because “only a small number of players decided to come,” and added, “Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling.”
Eagles player Zach Ertz called out the error as “propaganda,” tweeting a link to Fox News’ now-deleted tweet with a picture of the players praying and commenting, “This can’t be serious…. Praying before games with my teammates, well before the anthem, is being used for your propaganda?! Just sad, I feel like you guys should have to be better than this…”
The Los Angeles Times reported, “No Eagles players knelt during the anthem last season.”
Fox News tweeted a statement from Christopher Wallace, Executive Producer of FOX News @ Night with Shannon Bream, which read: “During our report about President Trump canceling the Philadelphia Eagles trip to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl win, we showed unrelated footage of players kneeling in prayer. To clarify, no members of the team knelt in protest during the national anthem throughout regular or post-season last year. We apologize for the error.”
This can’t be serious…. Praying before games with my teammates, well before the anthem, is being used for your propaganda?! Just sad, I feel like you guys should have to be better than this… https://t.co/kYeyH2zXdK
— Zach Ertz (@ZERTZ_86) June 5, 2018
"During our report about President Trump canceling the Philadelphia Eagles trip to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl win, we showed unrelated footage of players kneeling in prayer." (1 of 2)
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 5, 2018
"To clarify, no members of the team knelt in protest during the national anthem throughout regular or post-season last year. We apologize for the error." -Christopher Wallace, Executive Producer of FOX News @ Night with Shannon Bream (2 of 2)
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 5, 2018
