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An American news anchor has won worldwide praise for ripping up a story about Paris Hilton and trying to burn it, live on air.
The clip of Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, repeatedly refusing to run the story immediately became a YouTube phenomenon.
The controversy began when Brzezinski, the 40-year-old daughter of Zbigniew Brzezinski, a former national security adviser to President Carter, refused to read the story about Ms Hilton’s release from jail before items about Iraq and the White House. “I hate this story and I don’t think it should be our lead,” she said.
After crunching up the script into a ball, she was handed a new script. This time she tried to burn it with a cigarette lighter. On the third attempt Ms Brzezinski took the script to the newsroom’s shredder, where she destroyed it.
Some viewers wondered if the protest was staged in an effort to increase ratings, but the response from YouTube viewers was overwhelmingly positive. “People like her make me proud to be an American,” one supporter wrote.
Ms Hilton has dominated the news since being convicted of driving when her licence was suspended. The hotels heiress was released from jail on Tuesday and gave her first interview to the CNN show Larry King Live. The 26-year-old socialite said that she wanted to help her fellow inmates. “I want to help set up a place where these women can get themselves back on their feet. I know I can make a difference.”
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I l o v e "Paris Hilton in jail" video-mocking off judge, police- full sympathy :on 24.12.they put me out of MCD with gifts, in wet snow raining,towed car away ..but hate Paris wering any fure..she should see the" PETA" cruel furetrade video..( in her wite fure outfit she looks as a clown anyway..)
Alex A l e x a n d e r, M o n t r e a l, C a n ad a
I looked up the clip having read about it in a paper. What shocked me was the male colleagues patronising approach. Like watching unpleasant school kids. People will instinctively respect her for making a stand in such a culture.
Andy, Dorset, UK
I think it is deplorable that this so called news anchor was allowed to display such unprofessional behavior on "live" TV. Why is someone that is "educated" stooping to such levels. I also find it funny that when Paris went to jail every TV station network and News paper was announcing this ahead of any other news story! Now, that she was relased everyone wants to ignore it. Total hipocracy! Who is anyone to judge her. She did her time and she deserves to be recognized for that. Let's focus on the positive and not the negative in these situations. Bascially, just get a grip and leave the girl alone. She's done nothing wrong to anyone!
Roman G, San Antonio , TX, U.S.A.
It is heartening
SANITY has not vanished altogether.
cynthia, New Delhi, India
Congratulations to Mika Brzezinski. An outbreak of sanity amongst the trashy media-driven celebrity "culture".
May all celebrity items go the same way.
IAIN GREEN, MAGHULL, UK
The war in Iraq is surely more important than Hilton...way to go
Dave, Upper Hutt, New Zealand
Is she [Mika Brzezinski] trying to atone for the sins of her father?
Here is a wonderful quote from Zbigniew Brzezinsky âI encouraged the Chinese to support Pol Pot I encouraged the Thai to help the Kmher Rouge. The question was how to help the cambodian people. Pol Pot was an abomination. We could never support him, but China could.â
He (like our new prime minister) believes that the worlds problems can be solved by a New World Order.
Look it up.
Sarah, Liverpool, Merseyside
The media and the Paris Hilton's of the world deserve each other. One can't live without the other. I have one question - if her claustrophobia was so bad in jail, how does she manage to deal with the crush of the crowds in all the nightclubs and partys she goes to???? If she immediately takes the money she was paid to do Larry King and sets up the center, then I'll believe she's a changed person.
Kathy, Toronto, Ontario
This is rich, If her father were not Zbignew Brzezinsky I doubt
she would have a job reading whatever is put in front of her. This is
the Heir head in the brain dead job and probably why she did this, guilt over herself being a no brain heiress and jealousy not young miss Hilton's newsworthyness. Even if the sequence of the news with Hilton ahead
of Iraq is questionable though Hilton is more interesting than US
news propaganda.
Neil, Chessington, Surrey
newsreader exhibits deplorable unprofessional behaviour.
shame shame shame
andrew, st petersburg, russia
Hurrah!
Sense and sensibility arrives in the USA
At the risk of fanning the flames of Hilton fame, burning the script is perhaps a great leap forward for news emancipation from the shackles of popularism...
GDM, UH, new zealand
I am in love with Mika B...think I have a chance?
Tim L, washington, DC
I think If Paris Hilton really decides to go ahead and create a foudation to help women who come out of jail-then she is using her priviledged life as one whereby she is giving from it and not balancing on its laurels...I do not like the anger that this world has built towards this girl because of media hype..I also hope that other stars who get caught get the same treatment...I also hope she comes to realize that in this world there is much suffering and in order to reach out to it-she will have to take her eyes off of herself and relax in a more realistic lifestyle that would not provoke such hostility...I know she can help others
Dawn-Marie Kennedy, Chilliwack, BC, Canada