ABC airs anti-abortion ad with disturbing images during
The View broadcast comparing show cohosts to Nazis
In a statement to EW, a CNN representative called the
ad — which also targeted journalists and celebrities
like Taylor Swift and Oprah Winfrey — "outrageous,
antisemitic, and dangerous."
By Joey Nolfi Updated on October 16, 2024 12:13PM EDT
ABC warned its audience before airing a disturbing
political ad the network said it was required to
broadcast during a live episode of The View, with the
commercial depicting graphic imagery from abortions and
comparing several celebrities — including all six
cohosts of The View — to Nazis.
During the show's final commercial break on Thursday, a
warning message appeared on screen, reading, "The
following is a paid political advertisement, and the
ABC Television Network is required to carry it by
federal law. The advertisement contains scenes that may
be disturbing to children. Viewer discretion is
advised."
The explicit clip — fronted by presidential candidate
and anti-abortion activist Randall Terry — opened with
a shot of Miley Cyrus (pictured with a cake topped with
the message "abortion is healthcare") and an image of
Whoopi Goldberg seated at The View Hot Topics table.
"I am so sick of stupid celebrities and lying
journalists," Terry says via voice-over in the ad,
before its footage displays images of View stars Joy
Behar, Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro, Sara Haines, and
Alyssa Farah Griffin; broadcasters Jake Tapper, Wolf
Blitzer, and Dana Bash; and famous figures like Oprah
Winfrey, Taylor Swift, Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans,
Billie Eilish, Scarlett Johansson, and more. The
commercial then shows multiple images of fetuses and,
later, images of abortion procedures. "Why don't you
fools follow the science?" Terry asks.
"These are dead human beings, murdered by abortion that
you promote. If history even remembers you, you'll be
remembered like Leni Riefenstahl and Joseph Goebbels.
The name of the wicked will rot," Terry continues near
the end of the anti-Kamala Harris ad, invoking the
names of prominent Nazi figures.
After the clip played on air, ABC followed up with
another text statement that read: "The preceding was a
paid political advertisement that the ABC Television
Network was required to carry under federal law. The
advertisement contained scenes that may be disturbing
to viewers."
Local ABC affiliates addressed the ad online, with
Chicago's network station providing an editorial note
explaining the commercial to its audience.
"According to the FCC, broadcast stations are
'prohibited from censoring or rejecting political ads
that are paid for and sponsored by legally qualified
candidates,'" the post said. "Terry will be on the
ballot in at least 12 states so has met the criteria to
be considered a legally qualified candidate."
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are you?'
In response to Entertainment Weekly's request for
comment, an FCC representative points to a fact sheet
on political programming rules, including a section
outlining that "broadcast stations are prohibited from
censoring or rejecting political ads that are paid for
and sponsored by legally qualified candidates" and that
"this no-censorship provision does not apply to
political ads that are sponsored by non-candidate third
parties."
It continues, noting that the FCC does not "review or
pre-approve the content of political ads before they
are broadcast" nor does it "ensure the accuracy of
statements that are made by candidates and issue
advertisers."
EW has reached out to a representative for The View at
ABC and multiple parties depicted in the ad for
comment.
In a statement to EW, a CNN representative said, "The
ad in which presidential candidate Randall Terry —
without merit or explanation — compares multiple
respected CNN journalists and commentators to Nazis is
outrageous, antisemitic, and dangerous."
Many of the stars shown in Terry's ad have spoken about
abortion rights, including the panelists of The View,
who have voiced support for American citizens having
the right to make decisions about their own
reproductive rights without the involvement of the
government.
Swift recently endorsed Harris in the upcoming election
and urged her followers to register to vote in
November.
"If you haven't already, now is a great time to do your
research on the issues at hand and the stances these
candidates take on the topics that matter to you the
most," the singer wrote in a social post. "As a voter,
I make sure to watch and read everything I can about
their proposed policies and plans for this country.
Recently I was made aware that AI of 'me' falsely
endorsing Donald Trump's presidential run was posted to
his site. It really conjured up my fears around AI, and
the dangers of spreading misinformation. It brought me
to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent
about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The
simplest way to combat misinformation is with the
truth."
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