SATIRE (unless it isn't)
THE HOAX FILES · 21
CNN Settled. That's the Whole Headline.
CNN settled. That's the whole joke.
CNN
A 57-second clip made a high school junior the face of racism. The longer video, and a settlement, followed.
As printed on the graphic:
Covington KKKids Hoax
What they sold
January 19, 2019, Lincoln Memorial. A short viral clip shows Covington Catholic students in MAGA hats facing Native American elder Nathan Phillips. CNN's first story ran under a URL that says it all: "teens-mock-native-elder." The media treated the students as racist bullies within hours. Teenagers, minors, were named and shamed nationally.
What the record shows
Within days, longer footage came out. A group of Black Hebrew Israelites had been taunting the students first. Phillips walked into the student group. CNN itself followed up with "Nathan Phillips, Nick Sandmann encounter: a viral video shows a different side" (January 21, 2019). Student Nick Sandmann said he stood still to try to calm things down.
Sandmann sued CNN for $275 million. On January 7, 2020, CNN settled. The amount wasn't disclosed (Reuters, AP, CNN). FNN won't repeat unverified settlement figures. "Undisclosed" is the receipt.
The damage
FNN analysis: national outlets put a minor on blast based on a clip, then printed the fuller context a few days later. A settlement isn't an admission, but networks don't pay to make lawsuits go away when they're sure they'll win. Gallup: 2019 trust, 41%. 2020: 40%.
Closer
Fifty-seven seconds of clip. One settlement. A kid's name dragged around the world. Watch the whole video.