Anderson Cooper shut down a Sun News contributor who asked to have a picture taken with the news anchor while reporting from a fatal shooting in Ottawa.
Cooper was reportedly taking a break from live coverage when journalist Vandon Gene, who worked as a contributor for Sun News, made the request.
"Have a little respect," Cooper told him, declining.
Apparently, that didn't sit well with Gene who persisted.
"No, I will not take a photo with you on a day where someone was killed," Cooper shot back. "It seems wildly inappropriate."
It didn't end there.
Gene would later take up his case on Twitter -- in a series of messages that have since been deleted.
"I can't believe CNN would employ you when you SWEAR to your fans," he tweeted. "I simply asked for a photo. YOU are exploiting this tragedy by flying to Ottawa from NYC. I just got out of a 12 hr lockdown."
The tweets have since been deleted, but were captured in a screen grab:
Cooper had a thing or two to tweet about that.
On Thursday, Gene unleashed the inevitable apology, tweeting thusly (but not directly at Cooper):
A Sun News executive, however, did apologize to Cooper, according to CTV News.
In offering the apology, on behalf of Sun News, Matt Wolf added that Gene no longer works for them.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Gene was a chase producer and contributer for Sun News for six months.
Gene's website appears to have been recently disassembled. But while it was functional Media-ite gleaned these details:
H/T Mediaite
Cooper was reportedly taking a break from live coverage when journalist Vandon Gene, who worked as a contributor for Sun News, made the request.
"Have a little respect," Cooper told him, declining.
Apparently, that didn't sit well with Gene who persisted.
"No, I will not take a photo with you on a day where someone was killed," Cooper shot back. "It seems wildly inappropriate."
It didn't end there.
Gene would later take up his case on Twitter -- in a series of messages that have since been deleted.
"I can't believe CNN would employ you when you SWEAR to your fans," he tweeted. "I simply asked for a photo. YOU are exploiting this tragedy by flying to Ottawa from NYC. I just got out of a 12 hr lockdown."
The tweets have since been deleted, but were captured in a screen grab:
I wonder if @SunNewsNetwork is aware of the conduct of their employee @vandongene here? pic.twitter.com/zsbEgRTVSk
— Chris Alexander (@ChrisAlexand3r) October 23, 2014Cooper had a thing or two to tweet about that.
.@vandongene dude, you were rude and asking for a selfie near where a soldier was killed. It was completely inappropriate. Think about it
— Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) October 23, 2014.@vandongene I can't believe any station employs you, and if you want to be a journalist, learn how to behave when covering a story
— Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) October 23, 2014On Thursday, Gene unleashed the inevitable apology, tweeting thusly (but not directly at Cooper):
I unreservedly apologize for my actions yesterday. It was completely inappropriate, disrespectful, and distasteful.
— Vandon Gene (@vandongene) October 23, 2014A Sun News executive, however, did apologize to Cooper, according to CTV News.
In offering the apology, on behalf of Sun News, Matt Wolf added that Gene no longer works for them.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Gene was a chase producer and contributer for Sun News for six months.
Gene's website appears to have been recently disassembled. But while it was functional Media-ite gleaned these details:
Gene has hosted a show on the Tea Party News Network. His website describes him as a believer of “fair and balanced journalism” and someone who “asks the tough questions, digs deeper into the story, and follows it through to the end to get his viewers the answers.” Gene is also currently attending college in Ottawa.
H/T Mediaite