CNN has been providing 24/7 news coverage to the masses since it first came on air in 1980. In recent years, the news network has become something of a cultural punching bag thanks to its decline in viewership and failed attempts at keeping people watching — we're looking at you, CNN+!
While CNN has definitely gotten its facts wrong more than a few times over the years, it has also been at the center of some misunderstandings and false smear campaigns as well.
Today, we're taking a look at some of the times people accused CNN of getting its facts wrong. We're not saying that CNN is perfect, but you might be surprised at some of the blatant hoaxes people fell for about this polarizing news company!
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, but this is not one of those times!
In February 2023, an article made the rounds claiming that Elon Musk punched CNN anchor Don Lemon in the face. However, people who only read the headline missed the satirical joke buried further down.
According to the article, the punch was accidental and happened when Musk was attempting to demonstrate a boxing move. On top of all this, the article was tagged as "satire" on the website.
As outrageous as it sounds, this claim was actually made on the CNN website, but the context is a bit complicated.
In August 2018, Notre Dame Professor Joseph Holt published an Op-Ed on CNN that said, "We thank soldiers for their service because they devote themselves to protecting our freedoms, and we should. But we should also thank the media for the same reason – especially when the stakes have never been higher."
So, while the author did compare journalists to American soldiers, it wasn't technically on Veterans Day.
In August 2021, a social media image went viral that allegedly showed CNN praising the Taliban for wearing masks to protect themselves from COVID.
However, this is another instance where a satirical joke simply went over lots of people's heads. The image in question didn't come from CNN but from the website The Babylon Bee.
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, an image appeared on social media that purportedly showed CNN displaying video from an oil tank explosion in Canada and not the fight in Ukraine. Things did look suspicious, considering there were people wearing jackets that said "Edmonton" on them.
However, according to the city of Edmonton, their firefighters had donated gear to Ukrainian soldiers recently, which explained the presence of the jackets.
In 2020, social media users claimed that CNN had pulled an episode of "Larry King Live" because his guest was the mother of Tara Reade, the woman who accused Joe Biden of assault. This one is a bit of a mystery, but one thing is certain: CNN isn't to blame for this.
The episode indeed is missing from the "Larry King" listings on Google Play, but, according to a statement by CNN, the news channel doesn't have a distribution deal with Google Play, and the list of episodes was not sourced through CNN.
How and why this episode is missing on Google remains a mystery!
In 2020, the internet went bananas over a CNN town hall ad featuring Greta Thunberg, the teen climate activist, amidst COVID-19 talks. Critics were up in arms, mistakenly slamming CNN for casting her as a "coronavirus expert."
Yet, alongside Thunberg, other non-experts like MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and vaccine volunteer Neal Browning also shared their pandemic perspectives. Thunberg was there to chat about her UNICEF fundraising efforts, not to dispense medical advice.
Anderson Cooper called the uproar a "surreal, absurd drama," highlighting the frenzy was more for clicks than genuine concern. So, no, Thunberg wasn't posing as an expert—just a passionate advocate doing her bit.
In a whirlwind of tweets, lawsuits, and viral videos, Nick Sandmann, the teen who became famous for a controversial encounter at the Lincoln Memorial in 2019, settled his $275 million defamation lawsuit with CNN. The settlement's full details remain a mystery, as both parties kept mum about it.
So, while the news channel did settle out of court for its inaccurate reporting, the exact amount is unknown. Sandmann's legal cases continue with NBC, and The Washington Post is still in his sights.
In a "whoopsie-daisy" moment that had social media buzzing, CNN accidentally gave Alabama an identity crisis by labeling it as Mississippi on a weather map during their 2019 coverage of Hurricane Dorian. This blunder surfaced during the "Early Start" show, and yes, there's YouTube proof—well, there was until copyright police took it down.
Meanwhile, viewers were left scratching their heads, especially since CNN had just finished schooling President Donald Trump on his own Alabama-Dorian mix-up. Talk about awkward timing! CNN, any thoughts? Maybe it's time for a geography refresher.
In February 2019, actor Jussie Smollett falsely claimed that he was a victim of a hate crime that he had actually orchestrated himself. Shortly afterward, internet rumors began buzzing that CNN was offering Smollett a job on its news team "after witnessing his skills at fabricating a story entirely out of thin air."
However, the article that made this claim was actually posted on The Babylon Bee, a website known for its fake stories about current events.
In a scene straight out of an action-packed news day, CNN's Drew Griffin and crew turned into heroes diving into a ravine to save a man in distress during Hurricane Harvey. The rescue went viral, but not without its own drama — cue conspiracy theorists claiming CNN staged the whole thing. Their evidence? Griffin's supposed quick-change act from shorts to pants.
But the plot twist? It was two different men, Griffin and his producer, donning CNN's chic red jackets. CNN called the accusations nonsense.
In a twist that could only happen in the quirky universe of tech moguls and social media shenanigans, Elon Musk, the fresh CEO of Twitter, tickled the internet's funny bone by tweeting a fake CNN chyron that read: "Elon Musk could threaten free speech on Twitter by literally allowing people to speak freely." Quick to set the record straight, CNN's PR team clarified that no such headline had ever graced their screens.
The screenshot, birthed by the satirical website Genesius Times (self-proclaimed purveyors of top-notch fake news), sparked a debate over distinguishing satire from reality on Twitter. Musk’s playful jab at the situation hinted it was all a clever test of Twitter's Community Notes feature, leaving us wondering if he's just having a laugh or making a point about free speech. Either way, Musk's antics ensure there's never a dull moment on Twitter.
In the aftermath of Johnny Depp's defamation case win against Amber Heard in June 2022, the internet did what it does best—spun a yarn. A cheeky netizen whipped up a fake CNN headline claiming Depp was teaming up with Kyle Rittenhouse for a "national tour on the dangers of defamation." Spoiler alert: CNN never touched that story with a ten-foot pole, and no, there's no Depp-Rittenhouse roadshow.
The tall tale was likely a satirical nod following Depp's courtroom saga and Rittenhouse's own acquittal. Both cases stirred the pot, reflecting the polarized views on #MeToo and self-defense claims amidst societal unrest.
In the whimsical world of internet satire, a Facebook page stirred the pot with a headline claiming a CNN poll awarded President Joe Biden a whopping 9.4 out of 10 rating. The jest? This wasn't CNN's hard-hitting journalism but rather a playful poke from America's Last Line of Defense, known for its tongue-in-cheek takes.
Amidst a sea of comments, some netizens took the bait, mistaking satire for reality. The article, dripping with sarcasm, praised Biden's pandemic response in stark contrast to Trump's, who apparently scored a meager 1.8 in a previous poll—chalked up humorously to a Jitterbug phone sale and overzealous button pressing by supporters. Remember, folks, not everything on the internet is as it seems, especially when satire's afoot!
As the U.S. rolled up its sleeves for the first COVID-19 vaccinations in December 2020, the internet did what it does best—whip up a zany tale. A faux CNN screenshot made the rounds, dramatically declaring hospitals on lockdown as vaccine recipients supposedly caused people to want to...eat other....people.
Spoiler alert: CNN didn't suddenly pivot to zombie apocalypse coverage. The mischievous image was a creative edit of a real photo from Temple University Hospital, originally illustrating the toll of violence in a New York Times opinion piece. So, rest easy, the vaccine side effects don't include an insatiable hunger for fellow patients.
In the wake of President Trump's announcement on Oct. 27, 2019, about the demise of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a cheeky hoax image suggested CNN aired a chyron labeling Trump as killing an "Unarmed Father of Three." Spoiler: CNN didn't suddenly embrace melodrama.
The image was digital mischief, complete with blurry borders and an out-of-date photo of Don Lemon, who wasn't even on air that day. The real deal featured Jake Tapper and a straightforward chyron about al-Baghdadi's death. This crafty fake seemed aimed at poking fun at media missteps following a controversial headline about al-Baghdadi from The Washington Post.
In a quirky twist of misinformation, the internet buzzed with a so-called CNN correction claiming U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz was spotted wearing a QAnon pin, which turned out to be just a Doritos chip stuck to his suit.
This "Correction of the Century" had everyone talking, including CNN reporter Daniel Dale, who clarified with a chuckle that no such correction—or Doritos incident—ever occurred. Ted Cruz himself played along, professing his love for Doritos. Alas, this tasty tale of political fashion faux pas is rated as deliciously "False."
In September 2019, former Vice President Joe Biden's appearance at a CNN climate town hall sparked curiosity and concern when his left eye seemed to visibly fill with blood. The incident, captured during the live event, led to a flurry of media speculation, with some suggesting it indicated underlying health issues.
This phenomenon, known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage, can arise from various benign causes, such as straining or high blood pressure, and is generally harmless. Despite the buzz and speculation, the exact cause of Biden's eye condition during the debate remains unclarified, as his campaign did not provide specific details.
In October 2018, amidst a series of attacks by specific people, CNN host Don Lemon sparked controversy with his remarks on the terror threat posed by white men.
Lemon highlighted the discrepancy in public perception of threats, comparing the reaction to a caravan of asylum-seekers to the lack of a "white guy ban." His statements, made during a discussion on CNN, drew criticism from online commentators, accusing him of being prejudiced.
In August 2017, a meme made rounds on social media, claiming CNN confused comedian Tim Allen for pastor Joel Osteen in an article. Despite the buzz and Joel Osteen's scrutiny during Hurricane Harvey, CNN confirmed the mix-up never happened.
It turns out, not even the keenest eyes spotted this faux pas in credible media outlets. Guess it was just a playful poke at the news, proving once again that on the internet, seeing isn't always believing!
In a twist that reads like a script from the courtroom dramas we all love, former hospital CEO Davide Carbone took CNN to court over a report he claimed was defamatory. The story in question suggested St. Mary's Medical Center had a shockingly high infant mortality rate, a claim Carbone disputed as misleading and harmful to his career.
The drama intensified when a Federal District Judge allowed Carbone's lawsuit to proceed, hinting CNN might have aired the report with "actual malice." While some corners of the internet quickly branded CNN as "fake news," the court's decision simply meant Carbone's claims were strong enough for a trial, not a final judgment against CNN. The legal saga continues, proving the pen (or the broadcast) might be mightier than the scalpel.