Fox News felt a wave of outrage after publishing a misleading story which said one of the women who has accused Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual abuse “forged” part of her yearbook inscription signed by the Republican.
The Fox News story was published after Beverly Young Nelson sat down with “Good Morning Amerca’s” Tom Llamas which aired on Friday. In the interview, Nelson said she made “notes” under Moore’s inscription. In a news conference later on, Nelson’s lawyer, Gloria Allred, said Nelson had written the notes so she could remember who Moore was and when and where he had signed the book, according to ABC News.
Nelson reiterated, however, “He did sign it.”
Fox News did a report on Nelson’s interview and the headline read, “Roy Moore accuser admits she forged part of the yearbook inscription attributed to Alabama Senate candidate.”
The headline has since been changed, and the coinciding tweet has been deleted, but an archive of the post still keeps the original headline available. The current headline now reads, “Roy Moore accuser admits she wrote part of yearbook inscription attributed to Alabama Senate candidate.”
In regards to the approaching Dec. 12 special election, Nelson told Llamas, “It sickens me to wonder what may go on with him if he gets into office.”
“He could be doing this still,” she said, according to ABC News. “We don’t know. And, then again, I hope that he’s changed. I pray that he’s changed. I really do.”
Moore has categorically denied all of the allegations he’s been faced with, and both he and his campaign have argued that Moore’s signature was forged. President Donald Trump, who stayed mostly quiet when the allegations first surfaced, has formally endorsed his bid for Senate.
On Friday afternoon Moore, and other conservatives, seized the narrative Fox News contorted and published a tweet including the original Fox News article and tweet.
Gloria Allred a party to this –> Roy Moore accuser admits she wrote part of yearbook inscription attributed to Alabama Senate candidate https://t.co/ufL9nGy1vn #FoxNews
— Brit Hume (@brithume) December 8, 2017
Many users on Twitter slammed Fox News for their spin tactics and pointed out how misleading their structuring of the story was.
http://twitter.com/KaylaEpstein/status/939205472485347329
Fox News is the single most damaging force in American media.
Beverly Nelson said she added "notes" to Moore's message. Characterizing that as having "forged" anything isn't just wildly irresponsible; it's journalistic malpractice. pic.twitter.com/bVZMpVKpz6
— Samit Sarkar (@SamitSarkar) December 8, 2017
Oh, @FoxNews, I think you dropped something. Maybe a huge (and possibly legally actionable) lie? pic.twitter.com/tFr7eORk9G
— shauna (@goldengateblond) December 8, 2017
Even right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro got close to calling out Fox News for its misleading report:
No, the accuser didn’t admit to “forging” anything, and headlines suggesting she did are willful misinformation.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 8, 2017
You don't have to lie about what Nelson said to report that what she did say is a bombshell that casts doubt on her.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 8, 2017
Um that's not what she said nor do you have any evidence for that allegation https://t.co/EVLkCPxods
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 8, 2017
