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CNN outdid itself with exceptionally bad timing on Thursday morning during its coverage of Russia brutally invading Ukraine by transitioning to an Applebee’s commercial while air raid sirens blared in Kyiv and explosions started going off across the country.
CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga dutifully bemoaned the invasion, “It should be packed with commuters but subway stations in Ukrainian cities under fire and turned into makeshift bomb shelters. Families having to protect their little children.”
Going to commercial break, she then added, “Air raid sirens are ringing out this morning.”
While the bombs fell and people started dying, CNN incredibly cut to an Applebee’s ad with the Zac Brown Band song “Chicken Fried” playing and a guy dancing.
On one side of the screen, viewers saw the horror and carnage of a major war breaking out in Ukraine, while on the other, they saw pictures of cold beer and scrumptious food via an insane split of reality. The irony was not lost on those who watched the tone-deaf dichotomy in disbelief.
Research Director Scott Whitlock at NewsBusters astutely tweeted, “Really, CNN? There’s this thing called tone and tact. Look it up. Because your blending of commercials and all hell breaking out in Europe isn’t working.”
Really, CNN? There's this thing called tone and tact. Look it up. Because your blending of commercials and all hell breaking out in Europe isn't working. pic.twitter.com/yhnag26JQ5
— Scott Whitlock (@ScottJW) February 24, 2022
He went on to write at Newsbusters, “As Europe descends into war, chaos and death, CNN and MSNBC thought the appropriate, reserved way to handle the situation would be to blend live coverage with beer and chicken commercials. It went about as badly as you might imagine. ”
Idk if anyone is watching CNN rn but they just hard cut from a video of air raid sirens to the Applebees “little bit of chicken fried” commercial and it did irreparable psychic damage to me
— Dan (Agenda Pusher) (@ThiccStauskas) February 24, 2022
ForAmerica tweeted, “This missile attack is brought to you by Applebees!! THIS is CNN…”
Another user tore into Applebee’s with ironic glee, “Applebees couldn’t get a Super Bowl commercial, so they took the WW3 CNN slot. Savage.”
“How much do Applebees wings cost now? #LetsGoBrandon,” another asked.
Explosions were heard Thursday morning in a number of Ukrainian cities including Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, Odesa, and Berdyansk. People fled in their vehicles as the air raid sirens went off and Applebee’s had a cowboy boogying on CNN.
It’s so fucking awkward that CNN will cut from an interview with a Ukrainian family that has had their home bombed and lost everything to a commercial with upbeat music for fucking Applebees so quickly.
— Christian Rivera (@IWDominateLoL) February 24, 2022
Author Joe Kinsey over at Outkick nailed it perfectly:
If you thought CNN loved COVID, stop and watch an hour of the network’s Ukraine coverage. Things are blowing up, rockets are flying around, reporters are wearing helmets, tanks are moving through fields, Putin’s teasing nuclear war.
This is like Mahomes vs. Brady for a Super Bowl to this network and that means you run commercials like people are watching the Super Bowl.
Want to get away on an exotic vacation after watching a country blown up? CNN has you covered.
The unreal juxtaposition of Kyiv being bombed and Applebee’s fried chicken was mind-numbing to many.
Applebees: this is not what we meant when we agreed to aggressive guerilla marketing
CNN: 🤷♂️— m0Tweets (@m0Tweets) February 24, 2022
People were stunned on social media and the mocking of CNN was brutal:
Wow is right! 🔥🔥
— Hunter (@jakebess3) February 24, 2022
I always associate Applebee’s with a country takeover.
— chilly (@kms2651) February 24, 2022
We need to know TGI Friday’s thoughts on the invasion ASAP.
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) February 24, 2022
CNN during WWII:
Let’s go to Churchill’s speech, which is currently in progress…
“…we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall…”
Sorry to cut that off, but we have Cardi B in the studio! Cardi!
— Yancy (@yancypart2) February 24, 2022
It’s the only time they can get eyes on the screen. 🤣
— Crouching Tiger (@Crouchi53443802) February 24, 2022
Unbelievable
— Martinho (@Macchiato1965) February 24, 2022
So is @Applebees the proud sponsor of Russia’s war with Ukraine? Hey @CNN what are you thinking???
— James (@JamesSNYC) February 24, 2022
Watch the world burn while you guzzle down $1 drink specials.
— Claudia (@saucy_craboo) February 24, 2022
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