Senior National Correspondent of CNN, David Culver, received online reprimands because of images showing that he put on a panda suit in the aftermath of the masses at the station – while other stations offered stories about Donald Trump and the Hurricane in North Carolina.
Culver reported live in Washington to see the two new giant pandas of The Smithsonian National Zoo, months after he had visited them abroad.
The costumed images come from an umbrella production called Operation Panda, which was broadcast on Sunday, and on Friday the channel repeatedly broadcast images that were filmed at the end of last year.
The clips show him next to an equally costumed colleague, in what looks like the mountains of Southwest China. Bao Li and Qing Bao were both removed from the country this month, as part of a renewed deal between the US and China.
The two made their public debut on Friday, with Culver reporting from the scene. This led to criticism from some on social media, including a popular expert who labeled the content as uninspired compared to the news of the rest of the day.
In the meantime, others raised the approximately two hundred shootings that had taken place a few hours before, and the viewing figure struggle that gave rise to this. All expressed their disinterest in the Giant Panda-related content, because the network tries to tackle the declining TV viewing public.
“This is really something CNN does and broadcasts. I wonder why there were massive dismissals? ” wrote one person on X and shared a Still from Culver in Costume. The user found the concept boring.
Another added on Instagram. 'Cool. Now back to the Trump story that ensured that he was re-elected-which cleared the way for a stabbing joke by Joe Concha, an employee of frequent Fox News, who also attacked the wrestling channel for the segment.
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CNN Senior National Correspondent David Culver (Left) received online reprimands for attracting a panda suit in the aftermath of the mass dismissals at the station
The costumed images come from an umbrella production called Operation Panda, which will be broadcast on Sunday. It was filmed at the end of last year. Culver can be seen in Costume in addition to CNN's senior China Reporter Nectar Gan
“Fox News reports about the meeting of Trump with the victims of Helene in West-Noord-Carolina, complete with individual families who use the microphone to share their enormous struggle and frustration,” the expert wrote. “CNN – Dana Bash talks about giant pandas in DC.”
Hours earlier CEO Mark Thompson took a big step in his restructuring plan that has long been in the making and that wants to emphasize the digital future of CNN – a clear dismissal round for the third time in the same number of years.
“We're going to see Bao Li and Qing Bao,” Culver begins in a separate promotion that was also posted on Friday, when the Smithsonian's Panda keeper, Mariel Lally, offered him a tour.
At one point she brought the correspondent eye to eye with one of the friendly animals, leaving him behind with a Cheshire-cat grin.
“I don't know what I expected to feel, but this is incredible,” he said in images that are broadcast at 8 p.m. on Sunday.
“He is pretty amazing,” Lally from Bao Li added, while he took him bamboo through his cage.
While he was kidding away, Culver noted, “O my God, Mariel, he is so sweet!” Before he asked his guide “how great it is.” [was] To have pandas back [at the zoo]. ''
She replied yes and let the journalist say again: “Oh my God, he is so sweet,” after Bao Li and his slightly more reserved female counterpart had been successfully brought to the US as part of a brand new ten -year agreement with the Chinese. authorities.
A similar event ended in 2023, after three giant pandas, May Xiang, Tian Tian and son Xiao Qi Ji, were sent back to the country after they had stayed in the Smithsonian since 2000.
In the meantime, Culver reported live in Washington to see the two new giant pandas, months after he had visited them abroad. The bears have just been brought to the Smithsonian National Zoo and are the subject of Culver's segment to appear soon. The
Prior to their unveiling to the public on Friday, the Senior National Correspondent received a private tour, led by the Panda keeper of the Smithsonian, Mariel Lally.
At one point she brought the correspondent eye to eye with one of the friendly animals, leaving him behind with a Cheshire-cat grin. Although not fully released, the images only showed Culver that gushed the cute
Bystanders soon criticized the soft reporting, because other stories – such as Donald Trump visited North Carolina in the aftermath of the Hurricane Helene – seemed more important.
The conditions of the new deal are still somewhat unclear, which means that Culver has to flow over the cute of the bear after he has put on a suit. X users could only criticize.
“This makes me crazy,” wrote one, while another compared the parable of the bear masks with ski jars, similar to the thieves of Home Alone.
“CNN and the people who look at it are the worst,” someone else snarled, while the fires were still fresh in the memory of many.
“Returning to China for this story felt both deeply personal and very unique,” Culver said in a separate explanation, as the B-Roll for the new episode showed him in full Panda robe.
'The exclusive access – from the meticulous planning before the departure of the giant pandas to the trek through the wild to explore the landscapes they call at home – revealed a side of this journey that few ever get to see.
'It is a story that exceeds boundaries and records the remarkable efforts, cultural ties and raw beauty that inspire these iconic animals.
“I am happy that viewers can experience these rare, unforgettable moments firsthand.”
Former First Lady Jill Biden also visited the giant pandas last weekend and posted a video of the meeting on Facebook and Instagram, just a few hours before the newly chosen President Donald Trump flew to DC to start his inauguration.
Former First Lady Jill Biden also visited the giant pandas in one of her last acts before she left the Weekend van het Witte Huis. She posted a video of the meeting on Facebook and Instagram, just a few hours before the newly chosen President Donald Trump flew to DC to start his inauguration.
She was accompanied by Hunter Biden's son Beau, who, like Culver, the toddler, proclaimed how 'cute' the animals were on the images
Here, a still from the live stream of the Smithsonian exhibition, open to the public on Friday
She was also accompanied by Hunter Biden's son Beau, who, lLike Culver, you can hear the toddler exclaim how 'cute' the animals were on the images.
“This is Bao Li, which means” energetic treasure, “says the guide in the clip, placed on the official First Lady Instagram page.
“This is Qing Bao. It is just like a 'green, mountainous treasure', she adds.
“That's cute right?” the then first Lady asks.
“Cute,” the four -year -old replies.
The full title of the documentary with Culver is 'The Whole Story: Operation Panda'. The story is told by Anderson Cooper.
