By 3 News online staff
A Canadian journalist was taught a lesson in respect while covering the shooting in Ottawa yesterday, after being denied a selfie with CNN's Anderson Cooper.
In the age of the selfie, Sun News contributor Vandon Gene asked Cooper, who was in the city covering the shooting, for a photo during a lull between live crosses.
A YouTube video showing the exchange between the two saw Cooper deny Gene a photo with him.
"No, I will not take a photo with you on a day where someone was killed. It seems wildly inappropriate."
"Wow, alright, thanks a lot Anderson – I tried", Gene responded.
He later tweeted saying Cooper was "exploiting the tragedy by flying to Ottawa from NYC".
Cooper replied saying he couldn't believe a TV station would employ him.
"If you want to be a journalist, learn how to behave when covering a story," he tweeted.
.@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, 2014
Gene apologised, calling his actions "inappropriate, disrespectful and distasteful".
Again, I unreservedly apologize for my actions yesterday. It was completely inappropriate, disrespectful, and distasteful. @andersoncooper
— Vandon Gene (@vandongene) October 23, 2014
Meanwhile, Sun News said Gene "no longer has any association" with them.
RT @mw_wolf: FYI: @vandongene no longer has any association with @SunNewsNetwork. Now time to focus on the bigger issues @andersoncooper
— Sun News Network (@SunNewsNetwork) October 23, 2014
3 News
source: newshub archive
