The billionaire proprietor of the Los Angeles Occasions abruptly ended an interview with “so-called reporter” Oliver Darcy after the ex-CNN journalist pressed him about his resolution to rent pro-Trump commentator Scott Jennings to serve on the editorial board of the left-leaning broadsheet.
Darcy, who launched his standalone publication Standing after leaving CNN in August, reported on Tuesday that his cellphone interview with Occasions proprietor Dr. Patrick Quickly-Shiong was ended after the “conversation grew combative.”
Final month, Quickly-Shiong blocked his editorial board from publishing an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris — much like the transfer made by Washington Publish proprietor Jeff Bezos. In each instances, editorial staffers resigned in protest and readers cancelled their subscriptions in anger.
Each Quickly-Shiong and Bezos have acknowledged their want to diversify their newspapers’ respective editorial boards and opinion pages by hiring extra right-leaning voices.
Darcy reached out to Quickly-Shiong in response to an X put up wherein the Occasions writer wrote that he introduced Jennings to his paper’s editorial board as a result of he wished to workers it with “experts who have thoughtful balanced views.”
In line with Darcy, he reached out to the Occasions for touch upon Quickly-Shiong’s X put up. A private spokesperson of Quickly-Shiong then reached out to Darcy to see if he wished to interview the billionaire immediately.
The cellphone interview can be on the document and there can be no restrictions, in response to Standing. A abstract of the article was reported by Mediaite.
“The interview began warmly enough,” wrote Darcy. “I thanked Soon-Shiong for his time and asked him what he intends to do with the Times’ editorial board.”
Quickly-Shiong replied that he wished a revamped editorial board that he would construct “from scratch” in order that it will symbolize “all voices” that would come with “some truly critical thinkers, thoughtful people, onto the board” who “can voice opinion, but I’m hopeful that people voice opinion based on the facts.”
The Occasions proprietor praised Jennings for his “interactions” on CNN the place he typically is outnumbered “five to one” towards “the left.” Quickly-Shiong stated he was impressed with how Jennings was “respectful” and “thoughtful” in expressing his viewpoint on the air.
However Darcy took concern with Quickly-Shiong, saying that it was “very debatable” whether or not Jennings was “respectful to his fellow panelists.”
Darcy then blasted Jennings for his “dishonest” commentary. He wrote that Jennings’ profession “hinges on defending a politician (President-elect Donald Trump) who subjects the populace to an endless stream of lies and conspiracy theories.”
“It was when I attempted to broach this topic with Soon-Shiong that our conversation grew combative,” Darcy wrote.
In line with Darcy, Quickly-Shiong stated it was the reporter’s “opinion” that Trump “lies more than other politicians.”
Darcy wrote that Quickly-Shiong “didn’t apparently appreciate” his declare that “the depths of [Trump’s] dishonesty have been well-documented by fact-based news organizations.”
In line with Darcy, the Occasions proprietor “scolded” him for making “a statement.”
“If you want to talk about Donald Trump, that’s not the conversation I started with,” a “clearly annoyed” Quickly-Shiong is reported to have instructed Darcy.
Darcy, who observed that the interview “had without a doubt gone sideways,” sought to “get things back on track” and to “reel it back in.”
However Quickly-Shiong “interjected once more” and slammed Darcy as a “so-called reporter,” in response to Darcy.
When Darcy then requested Quickly-Shiong about “MAGA voices” that may very well be added to the editorial board, Quickly-Shiong’s spokesperson, who was listening in on the dialog, interjected: “I think we have pretty much answered all the questions that you have.”
“No, to be honest, you haven’t answered all the questions I have,” Darcy reported that he instructed the spokesperson.
However Quickly-Shiong’s rep “ended the interview, signaling to [his boss] to hang up the phone.”
The Publish has sought remark from Darcy and Quickly-Shiong.
