Nir Rosen Apologizes, Resigns From NYU Over 'Cruel And Insensitive' Lara Logan Tweets
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- You are what you Tweet.
Provocative author, foreign correspondent and filmmaker Nir Rosen has come under fire for comments he reportedly made on Twitter Tuesday after news broke that fellow journalist Lara Logan was the victim of a brutal sexual assault while on assignment covering the news of Egyptian President Mubarak's resignation in Tahrir Square on Feb. 11.
A day later, Rosen issued an apology and resigned from his post as a fellow at NYU's Center on Law and Security.
From the onset, his comments on Twitter appeared insensitive: "[L]ara logan had to outdo anderson. Where was her buddy mccrystal?" -- the comment likely a reference to CNN's Anderson Cooper who was punched in the head while he covered demonstrations in Egypt.
Rosen continued saying he thought it would be funny if Cooper had also been assaulted.
"Yes yes it's wrong what happened to her. Of course. I don't support that. But it would have been funny if it happened to Anderson too," Rosen Tweeted.
Another Tweet said the following: "jesus christ, at a moment when she is going to become a martyr and glorified we should at least remember her role as a major war monger."
Criticism was harsh and came almost immediately following his comments, including this from @cindysku: "Nir Rosen is disgusting."
A few moments later, he made an attempt to be contrite with the following update: "i apologize for being insensitive, its always wrong, thats obvious, but i'm rolling my eyes at all the attention she will get."
A series of more sincere apologies followed:
"As someone who's devoted his career to defending victims and supporting justice, I'm very ashamed for my insensitive and offensive comments," he wrote, apologizing to Logan's friends and family.
"I am deeply ashamed because they do not represent who i am, and i would like to convey my most heart felt apologies to Ms. Logan, her family, her friends, all women and to everyone I have hurt, angered and disappointed," he added in an e-mail.
Karen J. Greenberg, Executive Director, Center on Law and Security at NYU School of Law, issued the following official statement on Rosen:
"Nir Rosen is always provocative, but he crossed the line with his comments about Lara Logan. I am deeply distressed by what he wrote about Ms. Logan and strongly denounce his comments. They were cruel and insensitive and completely unacceptable. Mr. Rosen tells me that he misunderstood the severity of the attack on her in Cairo. He has apologized, withdrawn his remarks, and submitted his resignation as a fellow, which I have accepted. However, this in no way compensates for the harm his comments have inflicted. We are all horrified by what happened to Ms. Logan, and our thoughts are with her during this difficult time."
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