NBC reporter brings Bode Miller to tears with questions

[3c273a]

What the hell does the questions have to do with skiing? She should get a job with the National Inquirer.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. That was hella-strange. nt

[Renew Deal]

2. Was it Nancy Grace?

[yeoman6987]

4. lol

Her reputation would allow that as a competent question for sure.

[pintobean]

3. My wife and I both found that disgusting.

And the followed him as he tried to get away and kept the camera in his face.

[TexasTowelie]

7. Agreed, it was completely horrible

and totally disrespectful. What was that reporter thinking?

[WinkyDink]

5. She would not relent until she got Bode to cry. That was her sole purpose (pointing to the sky??).

[BeyondGeography]

6. Just posted on this...she was relentless

Three follow-ups about his deceased brother after he showed some emotion at the, "what does this victory mean to you," question. My wife and I were literally screaming at the teevee.

[undeterred]

8. Followed by commercials which say

If you've had a coke in the last 50 years you've had a part in making Olympic dreams come true.

[cpwm17]

9. I keep turning the sound off when they ask those annoying questions

so I apparently missed the worst of it.

[Still Sensible]

10. The first question about his emotions was fine

everything after that was classless.

[MANative]

11. that was plain old badgering.

Hubby and I were both disgusted and angry. There was no reason for it.

[truebluegreen]

12. That was the most disgusting example of emotion-mining for profit

that I have ever seen. I just sent NBC an email saying just that, and telling them I would be watching Canadian coverage from now on.

p.s. I think it was Christin Cooper, a former champion skier in her own right but BOY! has she gone off the deep end if she thinks that was appropriate. I don't know which would be worse: if it was her idea, or a directive from higher ups.

[Common Sense Party]

28. Is it possible to watch Canadian coverage online?

I'm sick to death of NBC and their crap "coverage."

[truebluegreen]

31. I'm sorry, I don't know--

I have a Canadian satellite provider.

[russspeakeasy]

13. She sounded like a "faux reporter".

[spanone]

14. who was the reporter?

[truebluegreen]

16. Christin Cooper.

Former silver medalist herself, she should know better. Crap, any decent human being would know better. Fire her ass.

eta: NBC has had HOURS to do the right thing and not use the footage....whose idea was this?

[spanone]

17. thank you

[Control-Z]

22. Twitter is going after her.

Last edited Mon Feb 17, 2014, 02:31 AM - Edit history (1)

Bode Miller is above it all:

Bode Miller ‏@MillerBode 9m

I appreciate everyone sticking up for me. Please be gentle w christin cooper, it was crazy emotional and not all her fault. #heatofthemoment


ETA: https://twitter.com/search?q=Christin%20Cooper&src=typd

[elleng]

26. I missed the whole thing,

but sounds like he's handled it nicely.

[Control-Z]

27. She devastated him during the interview.

I was screaming at the TV for her to shut up.

He recovered most graciously.

[northoftheborder]

15. That was the most insensitive thing I've ever seen a reporter do...

Totally uncalled for, one question about his brother was enough, obviously; she has no sense of propriety or compassion; should be fired.

It makes me furious all the time for reporters to inquire about how someone "feels" about this and that. That is not journalism.

[OmahaBlueDog]

18. Here's how to contact NBC

http://www.nbc.com/contact/general

Questions about the Olympics?
Email to: [e-mail]

[Vashta Nerada]

23. According to this article,

Miller seemed as though he wanted to talk about his brother and he brought him up first:

Cooper was the subject of some criticism on Twitter for pressing with the interview after it was clear Miller was getting emotional. Though the chat could have stopped when Miller shed a tear after what would be his last words, it was Miller himself who initially brought up his brother and appeared interested in talking about him during the interview. When that proved too hard for Miller, Cooper backed off and offered her hand.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/02/bode-miller-brother-nbc-interview/

[rocktivity]

19. It was partcularly unnecessary

because beforehand, they showed a little film about Miller's brother's death.


rocktivity

[Jimbo S]

20. I just sat watching going "WOW"

Glad to know I'm not the only one who thought it was inappropriate.

[Vashta Nerada]

21. Sensational tv.

It got the internet talking.

[kcr]

24. I saw that and wanted to grab that microphone out of her hand

And beat her on the head with it. He started tearing up at the mention of his dead brtoher and she was like a shark who smelled blood and went in for the kill, and just would not let up until he'd collapsed on the ground sobbing. What a

[LittleBlue]

25. NBC exploiting the memory of his dead brother for ratings

A completely tasteless display. He was already starting to break down under her questioning about his dead brother, and she just kept asking him more questions about his death until Bode put his head in his hands and knelt on the snow in tears. The cameras then zoomed in and showed every moment of his breakdown. Then they had 10 hours to edit it and aired it anyway.

Shameless emotional exploitation.

[Common Sense Party]

29. It was disgusting.

NBC has been pathetic since the beginning of the Olympics coverage, but this was the last straw.

[BeyondGeography]

30. NYT: NBC Pushes Too Far in Bringing Bode Miller to Tears

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/sports/olympics/nbc-pushes-too-far-in-bringing-bode-miller-to-tears.html?_r=0

[Javaman]

32. My GF and I were watching that interview...

my GF turned to me and asked, "what the hell does that question have to do with anything? that's over the line"!

My re ponce, "nothing is sacred anymore".

[DinahMoeHum]

33. It appears, however, that Miller has forgiven her.

Yeah, I felt a similar reaction with most of you, feeling she should have backed off and not badger him any further.

However, before we all dogpile on Cooper for the scene that happened after Bode Miller's medal-winning run, check out this link:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/olympics/2014/02/17/christin-cooper-good-woman-gets-hammered-bode-miller-interview/26783/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

(snip)
. . .clearly, that interview bothered a lot of people. My first news on this came from a friend back in Denver, an 18-year-old with a beautiful heart, who texted me: “Not a fan of that interviewer who was asking Bode questions at the end of the race.” It must have been very uncomfortable to watch.

I’d love to know what the producers were screaming in her earpiece when she was interviewing Miller.

I saw Miller crying after that race. I saw him with his wife and agent long after the race — and long after he paused to share his feelings with us print wretches — crying again. I chose not to focus on the death of his brother. But as Miller said, please take it easy on Cooper.

If Miller’s not upset with her, I think others might want to back off, too.
(snip)
(boldface emphasis is mine - DMH)

[Boomerproud]

34. "Long after he paused to share his feelings with us print wretches"

Who is acting like a 5 year old having a tantrum now? Yes, some of the media are wretches-and prove it on a daily basis.

[truebluegreen]

36. Sorry, I won't excuse her even if producers were screaming in her ear.

She, and they (who had plenty of time to decide not to use the footage) showed themselves to be soulless twits.

The fact that Bode Miller is a bigger person than I am doesn't make what they did right.

Assholes.

[FSogol]

35. NBC has been doing that to everyone. "Is this your last Olympics?" over and over to everyone

who screwed something up. Despicable interviews.