Entertainment media outlets went into overdrive after radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh called a health care advocate a slut over a period of several days.
Limbaugh is a political power player, first and foremost, but said outlets saw fit to include Limbaugh’s imbroglio in their coverage. Some people consider him an entertainer first, and a political pundit a close second.
It’s a stretch, but it’s understandable.
So what happens when one of the most notable directors in Hollywood Tweets the home address of an alleged murder suspect, and inadvertently causes an elderly couple to flee their home in fear when he gets the information wrong?
To paraphrase Simon & Garfunkel – the sounds of silence.
EW.com? Nothing.
Movieline.com? Nothing.
Variety.com? Nothing.
CNN’s Showbiz page? Nothing.
CNN’s Headline News has an entire portion of its web site dedicated to all things Trayvon Martin, the man allegedly killed by neighborhood watcher George Zimmerman. But not, apparently, a famous director’s ugly, potentially life-threatening tweet.
That’s actually preferable to how CNN anchor Don Lemon treated the incident. The video must be seen to be believed.
The New York Daily News buried Lee’s Tweet fiasco at the bottom of a story involving Geraldo Rivera.
Some media outlets actually dug through Tweets recently to find a few that were racially charged regarding the casting decisions made for “The Hunger Games.”
That was news. A famous director putting an elderly couple’s life in jeopardy? Nope, not according to today’s dishonest reporters. Limbaugh’s comments were offensive. Lee’s Tweet could have been far, far worse.
Bravo to The Hollywood Reporter for not only getting the story but asking Lee for comment. The director offered none as of yesterday, but what do media outlets ignoring this story have to say for themselves?