Actress Patricia Heaton commended Monday the media figures who deleted their initial tweets blasting the Covington Catholic students, but said that the damage done to the teens is “incalculable.”
She tweeted that the “sincere apologies” by some journalists were “welcome and necessary,” but “they don’t address the damage that cannot be undone which was inflicted upon people who are about to embark on adulthood.”
The Catholic teenage boys were initially accused of harassing an elderly Native American man, Nathan Phillips, after Friday’s March for Life, prompting widespread media condemnation, until more extensive video showed that he approached them first.
Mr. Phillips has a history of progressive political activism, including opposition to President Trump’s proposed border wall, and some of the boys were wearing red Make America Great Again caps.
“These young people will forever have these smears follow them through their life every time they proffer their resume with the word ’Covington’ on it,” said Ms. Heaton. “It will also affect anyone who has ever attended or will attend that school. The damage is incalculable.”
Among those who reportedly deleted their tweets blaming the teens from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky, were Bill Kristol, Ana Navarro, Bakari Sellers and Kara Swisher, according to a Daily Wire analysis.
Ms. Heaton, who starred in CBS-TV’s “Everybody Loves Raymond,” is known for her pro-life advocacy.
1. I’m seeing what I believe to be sincere apologies from some journalists and verified media persons regarding their lack of professionalism in rushing to judgement re the #CovingtonCatholic situation.
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) January 21, 2019
2. These apologies are welcome and necessary, but they don’t address the damage that cannot be undone which was inflicted upon young people who are about to embark on adulthood - applying to colleges, looking for employment, etc.
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) January 21, 2019
3. These young people will forever have these smears follow them through their life every time they proffer their resume with the word “Covington” on it. It will also affect anyone who ever has or ever will attend that school. The damage is incalculable.
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) January 21, 2019
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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