"Should They Have Shown Everything?" US CNN 'Self-Immolation Live Broadcast' Controversy

Live Detailed Coverage as Unexpected Incident Occurs
Criticism of Sensational Broadcast... Praise for Host's Response

A man who attempted self-immolation in front of the New York courthouse where former President Donald Trump's trial was underway was transported to a hospital but ultimately died. The New York City Police Department announced on the 20th (local time) that Max Azarello, a man in his late 30s, had passed away.

Meanwhile, American daily The New York Times (NYT) and others reported that the major news outlet CNN sparked controversy by live broadcasting the self-immolation incident that occurred in broad daylight in the middle of the city on the 19th (local time).

A man is setting himself on fire outside a New York courthouse, and people are avoiding the area. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to witnesses, Azarello took out a leaflet containing conspiracy theories from his backpack and threw it into the air before attempting self-immolation. At the time, near the New York courthouse, CNN news anchor Laura Coates was conducting an expert interview live regarding former President Trump's trial.

When the incident occurred, Coates quickly stopped the interview and stood in front of the camera to provide a detailed live report of the situation. Soon after, CNN's broadcast camera focused on the scene, showing Azarello engulfed in flames on a park bench, which was broadcast on the news screen for some time.

Following CNN's report that day, heated debates and controversies erupted in various places. The NYT commented, "Other broadcasters present at the scene also reported the incident immediately, but CNN's coverage was the most dramatic and explicit among them." Fox News, which initially covered the scene, immediately turned the camera away upon realizing the situation, and the anchor apologized to viewers, saying, "We are sorry to show you this scene."

The scene of the self-immolation death incident in front of the New York courthouse park [Image source=Yonhap News]

CNN reportedly issued internal instructions to producers not to rebroadcast the live footage that had aired earlier. CNN declined to provide an official response on this matter, but a CNN executive who requested anonymity told the NYT, "There was concern that rebroadcasting the footage could encourage imitation."

However, apart from the sensational nature of the report, Coates received praise for her quick and detailed response to the situation. Coates, a former lawyer, serves as CNN's legal analyst and the 11 PM news anchor.

In the news broadcast she hosted that night, Coates reflected, "I was deeply shocked at the time," adding, "My mouth instinctively explained the situation before me, but honestly, my eyes and nose wanted to undo what they saw and smelled. My heart aches when I think of the victim and his family."

Meanwhile, the NYT reported, "Based on Azarello's social media posts and arrest records, he was not affiliated with any particular political party," and added, "It is possible that paranoia and belief in conspiracy theories, which worsened after his mother's death in 2022, led to the self-immolation."