‘Man, oh, man’: Taxpayer-funded NPR’s poor attempt to bash capitalism a major backfire

June 11, 2021 | | Print Article

An unexpected (and arguably unwelcome) fashion crossover between Crocs and luxury brand Balenciaga prompted a capitalism-bashing tweet from taxpayer-funded National Public Radio.

It’s no surprise that a rubber clog/slipper with a heel probably isn’t the most important invention of our time (or any other time for that matter), but using one example to mock all of capitalism probably didn’t have the effect that NPR was expecting. Posting their article on the shoe titled “And Now, Crocs With Stilletto Heels,” the outlet captioned the tweet, “CaPitAliSm bReEds InNovAtiOn.”

This didn’t sit well with people who correctly noted that they are a taxpayer-funded organization that receives the fruits of capitalist endeavors.

Of course, as with all poorly-received attempts at snark, NPR quickly backtracked by saying it was supposed to be a “joke.”

“Not people in the mentions fighting over a joke about foam stilettos,” the outlet followed up, adding a crying emoji for effect.

Twitter users took exception to the “joke” and let their opinions be known, even calling to defund the organization.

Others noticed that these tweets seem out of place for a “mature” outlet such as NPR.

Even Sen. Ted Cruz’s national security advisor got involved just to call young people “insufferable.” With this being his example, he may have a point.

The hits just keep coming for NPR this year. Earlier in May national correspondent Sarah McCammon issued a tweet suggesting that journalists now need to wear bulletproof vests in order to do their jobs on American streets.

It was quickly deleted after people reminded her that journalists do not, in fact, have the most dangerous job on the planet.

“My bulletproof vest that I may need to be a journalist in America arrived and they sent me a Small and I had to adjust it to make it a little smaller and for a moment I was happy that I was too small for my bulletproof vest that I need to do journalism in America,” she said.

It looks like the outlet’s penchant for exaggeration wasn’t dampened by the backlash to McCammon’s tweet.

Sierra Marlee
Latest posts by Sierra Marlee (see all)

Comments

Latest Articles