BuzzFeed Editor Politicizes Louisiana Shooting, Violates Site Policy: ‘Don’t Pray, Push For Gun Control’
BuzzFeed editor Rachel Zarrell seems to have found herself in a bit of hot water with the site after politicizing the Lafayette shootings that left three dead, including the gunman.
Ticked off that so many people were sending their thoughts and prayers to the victims’ families, Zarrell had this to say.
Don’t pray. Push for gun control.
— Rachel Zarrell (@rachelzarrell) July 24, 2015
The sentiment did not land well with her Twitter followers, even turning off some who agreed with the sentiment that gun control laws need to be improved.
@rachelzarrell @omara341 yes, but not this very moment, as if this were someone in your family, you would want a brief moment of respect.
— sunsentinello (@sunsentinello) July 24, 2015
Not content to be handed a guilt trip for her political statement, the BuzzFeed editor then dug in further.
@sunsentinello if this were someone in my family id want every person alive screaming about gun control to anyone who would listen
— Rachel Zarrell (@rachelzarrell) July 24, 2015
This went over about as well as you would expect with some calling her a “lunatic” and others a “fool.” Here are a few additional criticisms.
Ifs and buts were.@rachelzarrell @sunsentinello nuts & candy we would all experience a day in your utopia
— Todd (@jacktownbb) July 24, 2015
@sunsentinello @rachelzarrell no sense in reasoning w/ someone like this; they don’t let a crisis go to waste.
— Ben Hardee (@BenHardee) July 24, 2015
Perhaps the criticism that stung worst for the BuzzFeed editor, however, was when conservative Stephen Miller pointed out that she had expressly violated her own company’s policy with this tweet.
This is from Buzzfeed’s ethics guide @BuzzFeedBen. Care to comment? http://t.co/Gye4ZxUWFQ pic.twitter.com/HROjhKCWr9
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) July 24, 2015
After Miller had tweeted this out, Zarrell finally took to Twitter with a comment acknowledging that she had misspoken, stating that Miller was right, “it was the wrong thing to say.”
She continued.
“I was being reactive. I don’t speak for my colleagues.”
Unfortunately, this sort of thing is about as common as the tragedies that occur. The U.S. in particular has become so polarized that whenever something happens that suits one group’s agenda more than the other, those people are quick to push their agendas before thinking about the actual people who have to live with the tragedy.
What do you think, readers? Is it wrong to criticize how people deal with a tragedy for the sake of your own beliefs? And should BuzzFeed take action against Zarrell? Sound off in the comments section.
[Image via Twitter]
