CBS News took a wave of backlash on Thursday after publishing an X post that appeared to downplay the horrific terror attacks Hamas perpetrated against Israeli civilians, leaving over 1,300 dead and thousands more wounded.
The post in question referenced the incredible survival story of 10-month-old twins whose parents hid them just before the Hamas terrorists arrived at Kfar Aza kibbutz, killing the parents and numerous others — including children and babies.
But what people took issue with was not the story itself — rather, it was the use of scare quotes around the word massacre: “10-month-old Israeli twins were found hidden and unharmed at kibbutz where Hamas ‘massacred’ their parents and beheaded children.”
10-month-old Israeli twins were found hidden and unharmed at kibbutz where Hamas “massacred” their parents and beheaded children. https://t.co/9YCtAJ6KTs
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 12, 2023
Critics responded by suggesting that CBS had downplayed the brutality and horror of the scene, mocking the outlet with their own scare quotes and referring to CBS News as CBS “News.”
“Putting the ‘BS’ in CBS,” Larry O’Connor observed.
“CBS ‘social justice’ reporter @WritingLiYakira is the ‘journalist’ who put quotes around the word massacre as if Hamas’s attacks weren’t in fact massacres of civilians,” Nick Fondacaro added.
CBS “social justice” reporter @WritingLiYakira is the “journalist” who put quotes around the word massacre as if Hamas’s attacks weren’t in fact massacres of civilians. https://t.co/VqvfVsKqkr
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) October 12, 2023
“Uhhhh … you can drop the quotes off ‘massacred.’ Because they were massacred,” Emily Zanotti said.
“CBS News with scare quotes around the word massacred,” Stephen Miller added.
CBS news with scare quotes around the word massacred. https://t.co/k7QaTBwt09
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) October 12, 2023
“I hate having to repost CBS ‘News’ … but I have tears and chills as I remember seeing this photo and family reported as all killed, but the parents saved their babies by hiding them … how much more parallel to the Holocaust must we get?” The Federalist’s Margot Cleveland said.
I hate having to repost CBS "News" h/t @MZHemingway but I have tears and chills as I remember seeing this photo and family reported as all killed, but the parents saved their babies by hiding them . . .how much more parallel to the Holocaust must we get? https://t.co/Aa4wzQ65it
— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) October 12, 2023
“Is it not a real massacre? Why the quotes on that word, CBS?” Jennifer Van Laar asked.
“Why is CBS putting massacred in quotations? Call it what it is,” Dawn Buckingham said. “These Hamas terrorists massacred their parents and beheaded children. Disgusting behavior by mainstream media.”
This is CBS "news." @CBSNews https://t.co/Bw91pLq2Tu
— John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) October 12, 2023
CBS “News” https://t.co/4bPFKU7yyK
— Anna James Zeigler (@ajzeigler) October 12, 2023
Awesome job, CBS “News” https://t.co/yQ7dXuniRh
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) October 12, 2023