Conservative attacks on #MarchForOurLives student leaders turn personal
What's the story
Conservatives not comfortable with the politics of student leaders of Saturday's #MarchForOurLives have stooped to a new low, hurling personal attacks at the teen organizers calling for stricter gun-control measures. Fox News presenter Laura Ingraham took to Twitter on Wednesday to troll David Hogg, a teen leader and survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, for being rejected by colleges. Here's more.
Twitter Post
Really, Laura Ingraham?
David Hogg Rejected By Four Colleges To Which He Applied and whines about it. (Dinged by UCLA with a 4.1 GPA...totally predictable given acceptance rates.) https://t.co/wflA4hWHXY
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) March 28, 2018
The attack
Fox News host mocks teen leader over college rejections
Ingraham tweeted the link to a Daily Wire story on how Hogg didn't get admission into UC's Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Irvine branches despite his 4.1 GPA. (Hogg scored a 4.2). Alongside she wrote: "David Hogg Rejected By Four Colleges To Which He Applied and whines about it. (Dinged by UCLA with a 4.1 GPA...totally predictable given acceptance rates.)"
Twitter Post
When you mess with an outraged teen student
Pick a number 1-12 contact the company next to that #
— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) March 29, 2018
Top Laura Ingraham Advertisers
1. @sleepnumber
2. @ATT
3. Nutrish
4. @Allstate @esurance
5. @Bayer
6. @RocketMortgage Mortgage
7. @LibertyMutual
8. @Arbys
9. @TripAdvisor
10. @Nestle
11. @hulu
12. @Wayfair
The backlash
Ingraham slammed on Twitter, dumped by her show's top advertisers
The pettiness of it all didn't escape Twitter users. Hordes of them slammed Ingraham for her insensitivity and meanness. Hogg responded hours later, targeting the top 12 advertisers of Ingraham's show and urging all to boycott her. And they did. Several of her advertisers, including Expedia, Hulu, Johnson & Johnson, Nestle, Nutrish, Stitch Fix, TripAdvisor and Wayfair, have announced their decision to dump her.
The apology
Ingraham apologises, claims credit for first featuring Hogg
Feeling cornered, Ingraham tweeted an apology on Thursday, which said that "any student should be proud of a 4.2 GPA". She apologized "for any upset or hurt my tweet caused him (Hogg) or any of the brave victims of Parkland" and even extended him an invitation, saying he was "welcome to return to the show anytime for a productive discussion".
Twitter Post
Ingraham's unsuccessful attempt at damage control
... immediately after that horrific shooting and even noted how "poised" he was given the tragedy. As always, he’s welcome to return to the show anytime for a productive discussion. WATCH: https://t.co/5wcd00wWpd (2/2)
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) March 29, 2018
The trolls
#MarchForOurLives is funded, its organizers are actors, accuse conservatives
Though he has been called a "moron" and a "baldfaced liar", Hogg isn't the only #MarchForOurLives leader being targeted. Emma Gonzalez has been labeled "skinhead lesbian" and her Cuban heritage was mocked. Fake facts presented as news are doing the rounds on social media. The movement has been called funded, scripted, its leaders actors. They have even been likened to Hitler.