CNN questioned after altering red background of Biden speech
CNN is facing questions from critics after the network was busted altering the lighting for President Biden’s Thursday address, softening the blood-red hues to calmer shades of pink.
The president came in for withering mockery online for the harsh black and red backdrop, with many comparing the optics to “Star Wars” and “V for Vendetta.”
While networks like CNN, MSNBC, CBS and C-SPAN carrying the speech all originally appeared consistent, CNN noticeably altered the color of the background from red to pink in real-time.
Eagle-eyed cable news watchers pounced on the shift. The story was reported in Mediaite, which put the CNN footage up side-by-side against other networks, showing that the CNN switch was not a technical problem that hit all networks.
“CNN appears to have tweaked the video of Biden’s speech from demonic red to Pepto-Bismol pink. Very helpful, as we needed a lot of Pepto-Bismol to get through this!,” said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee .
CNN’s broadcast appeared to show a pink background behind Biden. CNN
The network claimed it was a technical glitch with the CBS pool feed. CNN
A rep for CNN said the issue was caused by a technical glitch with the CBS pool feed.
CNN was caught allegedly changing the lighting of President Biden’s primetime speech after the harsh background was criticized. Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
Though Biden promised to deliver a unifying speech on the “battle for the soul of the nation,” he was blasted by partisans as divisive and fear-mongering. Many latched on to his claims that “MAGA Republicans” were a threat to the country — something the president later walked back.
“I don’t consider any Trump supporters a threat to the country,” he told Fox News Friday. “I do think anyone who calls for the use of violence, refuses to acknowledge an election … changing the way you count votes, that is a threat to democracy.”