Legendary CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour slammed Chris Licht this week over the network CEO’s controversial decision to hold a live town hall with Donald Trump, RadarOnline.com has learned.
Amanpour’s surprising revolt against Licht came on Wednesday afternoon as she stood before an audience of fresh journalism graduates and gave a commencement address at Columbia Journalism School in Morningside Heights, Manhattan.
But shortly after beginning her address, Amanpour targeted Licht and his decision to host Trump at the live town hall event in New Hampshire on May 10.
According to the CNN chief international correspondent, she spoke with Licht earlier this week to explain that the network should not have allowed the embattled former president “to appear in that particular format.”
Amanpour also revealed that Licht admitted “the execution” of the live town hall “was lacking a little,” although the network head honcho also reportedly insisted CNN “did the right thing” and the Trump town hall was “a service to the American people.”
“We know Trump and his tendencies, everyone does,” Amanpour told her audience on Wednesday. “He just seizes the stage and dominates, no matter how much flack the moderator tries to aim at the incoming. It doesn’t often work.”
“I have always opted to speak out when staying silent might have been easier,” she continued. “I want to do what’s right and empathize with and acknowledge all of those who need to trust us at CNN. I understand that for many of us, the town hall was an earthquake.”
“I hope that your trust in us might have been shaken but not shattered,” Amanpour added. “That you believe we can survive and rebuild that trust.”
“I would have dropped the mic at ‘nasty person,’” Amanpour said on Wednesday during her address.
“But then that’s me,” she continued. “I’ve been in the ring for a long time with these people.”
Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free.
