‘THE FEAR OF GOD’

CNN Execs Pulled Reporter Aside for ‘Too Emotional’ Town Hall Coverage

Chris Licht reportedly urged Senior Media Reporter Oliver Darcy to remain “dispassionate” in his reporting.

CNN CEO Chris Licht and other top executives at the network pulled Senior Media Reporter Oliver Darcy and his editor Jon Passantino into a meeting the morning after CNN’s disastrous town hall with Donald Trump to chide Darcy for his “too emotional” coverage of the event, according to Puck News. Sources close to the matter said Licht urged Darcy to remain “dispassionate” when reporting for CNN or any media publication, according to Puck News, a conversation that “put the fear of God” in Darcy. A source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Daily Beast that the confrontation occurred between Darcy and Licht. The Daily Beast also confirmed that Darcy had told a CNN colleague that he was not emotional during the meeting, but stood by his work and didn't apologize for it. One insider was quoted telling Puck News: “It’s Chris Licht’s fucking CNN now.” A CNN representative declined to comment when contacted by The Daily Beast.

-- Justin Baragona contributed reporting