For the most part, ‘Inside Edition’ has moved away from its days as a “tabloid television” show. Indeed, of the three major tabloid-style news shows from the 1990s, it’s the only one still on the air. But last night, ‘Inside Edition’ picked the worst possible time to go back to its past. Less than 24 hours before the victims of a grisly triple homicide in Chapel Hill, North Carolina were laid to rest, ‘Inside Edition’ saw fit to use the shooting as a segue to, of all things, a story on how to find a parking spot at the mall.
Host Deborah Norville mentioned that many people believe the shooting was a hate crime, since all three victims–Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha, and Razan Abu-Salha–were Muslim. However, she said, police believe the shooting was a dispute over parking spaces at a condo that went horribly wrong. What she said next is simply unbelievable.
“Now, finding a parking space is one of those things that can push some people over the edge. But there is always a way to find a spot at the mall.”
Norville then tossed to a lifehack story about techniques for finding a parking space. Lest you think this is snark, Media Matters got a clip.
When I first saw this on my Facebook feed, I couldn’t believe it. How could any news program possibly display such an appalling lack of judgment? But after seeing this for myself, the most benign interpretation is that all of the safeguards that were supposed to prevent something as callous and insensitive as this from even going on the air failed–and failed utterly. Before you ask, it’s very unlikely that “Inside Edition” reporter Jim Moret knew that his piece would be used in this way.
There was never a good time for “Inside Edition” to do this. But it cannot be repeated enough–this aired less than 24 hours before the funeral. Unless I’ve missed something, neither “Inside Edition” nor Norville have commented on this. The only comment that either of them need to make is a full apology to the Barakat and Abu-Salha families.
