ANALYSIS: CNN More Interested in ‘Sharknado’ Actress Than Joe Biden Sexual Assault Accuser
More than a month after Tara Reade publicly accused her former boss, then-senator Joe Biden, of
sexually assaulting her in 1993, CNN has published just two news reports on the allegations. By comparison, the network has published more than 10 times as many news items on Tara Reid, the C-list actress best known for her role in the
Sharknado franchise.
In addition to publishing several articles musing on whether the "novelty" of the original
Sharknado has worn off after five sequels, CNN has featured Reid in a number of slideshows, including "Comic-Con: Selfies with celebrities," "A brief(s) history of wardrobe malfunctions," and another that's just a montage of celebrities wearing Ed Hardy apparel. Tara Reade does not appear in any slideshows on the CNN website.
In the two weeks after Dr. Christine Blasey Ford came forward with her accusation against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, CNN published more than 400 items on its website related to the allegations. By contrast, it didn't publish a single item on the sexual assault accusation against Biden until April 17, more than three weeks after Reade recounted her story in a podcast interview.
Since Reade's allegation was made public, Biden has been interviewed multiple times on major media networks, including twice by CNN's Anderson Cooper. For some reason, the former vice president has yet to be asked about the accusation. Thus far, his only public response has been to deny the allegations via a statement from a campaign official.
Biden "needs to address the Tara Reade allegations," wrote CNN editor Chris Cillizza on Monday. If only Cillizza worked for a major news network with the capacity to make that happen. Anderson Cooper, who is not named in Cillizza's piece, didn't think Biden needed to address them in either of his interviews. Despite the obvious media angle to the story—namely, the glaring lack of coverage—CNN media reporter Brian Stelter has been
too emotional to look into it. At least their colleague Oliver Darcy has been keeping tabs on the stories that matter.