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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 11 august 2017
CNN severs ties with commentator over Nazi salute tweet

NEW YORK (AP) — CNN CNN caved on the First
fired conservative com- Amendment of all things. I
mentator Jeffrey Lord on disagree. I respectfully dis-
Thursday after he tweeted agree.”
a Nazi salute at a critic. He declined to get into
A network spokesperson specifics of how he was
confirmed that Lord was fired, saying he wanted to
no longer with the network keep that a private con-
and said “Nazi salutes are versation.
indefensible.” The state- Retained by CNN in August
ment came hours after Lord 2015, Lord was an indefati-
tweeted the Nazi slogan gable on-air supporter of
“Sieg Heil!” at the head of Donald Trump throughout
a liberal advocacy group, his candidacy and since
Media Matters for America. his election. A contributor
Lord said in a telephone in- to the conservative maga-
terview Thursday night that zine The American Specta-
he respected CNN and its tor, Lord is a former aide
journalists, but fundamen- to Jack Kemp and Ronald
tally disagreed with the Reagan.
network’s decision to fire He had repeatedly clashed
him. He said his “Sieg Heil!” with Media Matters presi-
tweet was not an endorse- dent Angelo Carusone,
ment of Nazism or fascist whose group condemned
tactics, but was meant to CNN for employing him as
mock Media Matters and a commentator.
its use of boycotts of adver- Following a harsh ex- In this Dec. 15, 2016, photo, CNN commentator Jeffrey Lord, appears at a rally for President-elect
tisers of conservative voic- change of tweets with Ca- Donald Trump in Hershey, Pa.
es such as Sean Hannity, rusone earlier this week, Associated Press
which Lord equated with Lord posted an article for Heil!” per and Don Lemon, fel- Lord said he did not know
fascism. The American Spectator In subsequent tweets, he low commentators, and what his next steps would
“I want to make something on Thursday morning, call- insisted he meant to be viewers with many of his be, but said he didn’t in-
very clear. I have nothing ing Carusone’s group the “mocking Nazis and Fas- statements. During Super tend to stop speaking out
but respect, affection and “Media Matters Fascists” cists.” Tuesday election night cov- about the First Amendment
love for CNN. I think the and casting them as “anti- “I believe in a writer’s tool- erage in March 2016, he and other issues.
world of CNN,” Lord said. “I free speech bigots who, in box there are several ways argued that the KKK was a Asked about how he felt
think they’re terrific people typical fascist style, make it you deal with people,” left-wing organization be- about having a tweet end
and serious people.” their mission to shut down Lord said. “One of them is cause of Democrats’ sup- his CNN career, Lord said
He called himself a “First speech they don’t like.” to mock them.” port of it many decades he wasn’t necessarily sur-
Amendment fundamen- During the day, the Twitter During his presence on before. In April, he called prised given the vitriol Twit-
talist” and called CNN’s sparring resumed, with Lord CNN’s airwaves Lord had President Donald Trump ter can provoke. Ironically,
decision disappointing. finally responding to Caru- frequently riled CNN hosts the “Martin Luther King” of he said, tweeting more was
“From my perspective sone with the tweet: “Sieg including Anderson Coo- health care. a New Year’s resolution.q

‘American Horror Story: Cult’

stars can’t say much about it

By SANDY COHEN, AP Martin Woodall.
Entertainment Writer Here’s what they could
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The reveal: “Cult” involves a
women of “American Hor- lesbian marriage, a broad-
ror Story: Cult” came to Fox cast journalist and what
Studios promote the new Woodall described as “an
season for an audience of exciting trip to the grocery
television critics Wednes- store.” “As with all good
day, but they couldn’t ac- horror and suspense, know-
tually say anything about ing less is actually so much
the show. more because it’s going to
Stars Sarah Paulson, Alison unfold for you,” she said.
Pill, Leslie Grossman, Adina Though show creator Ryan
Porter and Billie Lourd gave Murphy has said “Cult” was
vague answers to critics’ inspired by the election of
questions and apologized President Donald Trump,
for saying so little. The ac- Woodall said the seventh
tresses appeared along- self-contained installment
side makeup artist Eryn in the “American Horror Billie Lourd, left, Alison Pill, center, and Sarah Paulson, cast members in the FX series “American
Krueger Mekash, costume Story” anthology “is more Horror Story,” take part in a panel discussion on the show at the 2017 Television Critics Association
designer Lou Eyrich and about the world around Summer Press Tour at 20th Century Fox Studios on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Los Angeles.
executive producer Alexis us.”q Associated Press