Fox Exec Explains Decision To Post Video Of ISIL Hostage Being Burned Alive

Fox News host Bret Baier introduces an image showing an ISIL prisoner being burned alive.
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After Fox News posted video on its website of the Islamic State burning a hostage alive, an executive for the channel told TPM on Wednesday that the “barbarity of ISIS” had trumped concerns over showing the graphic footage.

In an email to TPM, the company issued a statement from John Moody, executive vice president and executive editor for Fox News Channel, explaining the decision to publish the video of Jordanian pilot Muath Al-Kaseasbeh being set on fire in a cage.

“After careful consideration, we decided that giving readers of FoxNews.com the option to see for themselves the barbarity of ISIS outweighed legitimate concerns about the graphic nature of the video,” the statement said. “Online users can choose to view or not view this disturbing content.”

Fox News posted the 22-minute video online on Tuesday night, hours after the channel aired a graphic still image from the video.

A terror expert quickly criticized the decision to publish the video, telling the Guardian that doing so amounted to “working for al-Qaida and Isis’ media arm.”

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Notable Replies

  1. There is no reasonable explanation for this crap. None whatsoever. Period. Other than possible royalties from ISIL coming Fox News way. Or support for a terrorist organization.

  2. Avatar for eglot eglot says:

    Other than providing titillation for those who get off on torture porn, there is absolutely no reason to show the video. You’re doing exactly what those creeps at ISIS want.

  3. Thankfully FOX saved the American public from seeing the cavalcade of US Flag-draped caskets coming home from the Middle East for over a decade.

  4. “Fox Exec Explains Decision To Post Video Of ISIL Hostage Being Burned Alive”

    Well, Benghazi doesn’t work.

  5. *“Fox Exec Explains Decision To Post Video Of ISIL Hostage Being Burned Alive”

    “Well you see, we had to find a way to scare a bunch of old white people and the Ebola thing was past its Sell-By date, so we figured we’d show those miserable arab sandCLANGer savages wildin’ and lootin’ like a Fergusonite…”

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