FOX CT apologized Wednesday for inadvertently airing creepy video close ups of breasts as B‑roll during a report on Women’s Day at the state Capitol in Hartford.
The television station did not explain how the screw up happened, but the Huffington Post reported Wednesday FOX CT actually aired the footage twice.
The footage, featuring women wearing tank tops, immediately triggered “Are you kidding me?” reactions on social media.
The video, taken from a Facebook page, is below.
The Connecticut Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) demanded an apology.
“Fox CT News, whether they intended to or not, has just inserted their organization into a culture war and sent the message that women should not be taken seriously. It is an insult to the female employees at Fox and to women throughout Connecticut,” the state’s NOW chapter said in a prepared statement.
The NOW statement also noted the TV news station has previous experience with gender discrimination allegations, a reference to a complaint lodged by a former news anchor who worked at the station.
Christine A. Palm, the communications director for the state’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, also lambasted FOX CT for the footage.
“We are appalled at the level of sexism this incident shows. It is an insult not only to the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women and to all who attended Women’s Day at the Capitol, which marked the PCSW’s 40-year battle against gender discrimination, but to women everywhere who are tired of being objectified,” Palm said.
“Anyone who doubts the existence of the ‘war on women’ need look no further than Fox News. We invite the executives at Fox to ask about our Sexual Harassment Awareness and Prevention trainings, which would help them and their staff learn a little more about what goes on above a woman’s shoulders.”
A message seeking comment was left Wednesday morning with Rich Graziano, the publisher, president and CEO of the Hartford Courant and the general manager at FOX CT.
FOX CT issued an apology Wednesday on its Facebook page:
“FOX CT apologizes for mistakenly airing inappropriate file footage in conjunction with this morning’s report on Women’s Day at the Connecticut State Capitol.
The video should never have aired. FOX CT will publicly apologize on today’s newscasts, as well as through our social media platforms.
We are also implementing procedures to keep this from happening in the future.
FOX CT is committed to recognizing and applauding the significant contributions of women, both in Connecticut and throughout the country.”
Here is video from Facebook showing a woman from Rockland County, N.Y. calling FOX CT to complain:
