Tipsheet

Anderson Cooper Attacks Middle Class in Coverage of US Capitol Riot

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper put his elitism on full display this week in his coverage of the U.S. Capitol riots, mocking pro-Trump protesters for where they may be dining and sleeping after the demonstration.

"Look at them, they’re high-fiving each other for this deplorable display of completely unpatriotic, completely against law and order, completely unconstitutional behavior, it’s stunning," he said. "And they’re going to go back, you know, to the Olive Garden and to the Holiday Inn they’re staying at, and the Garden Marriott, and they’re going to have some drinks and they're going to talk about the great day they had in Washington.”

He continued: “They stood up for nothing other than mayhem."

As Dave Rubin pointed out, Cooper is worth tens of millions. Others called him out for his classism. 

Fox News hosts Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity came to the defense of the establishments Cooper sought to denigrate.

“Last night, fake Jake’s [Tapper] colleague, the ever-so prestigious Anderson Cooper had his own grievances,” Hannity said. “According to Anderson, the real horror from yesterday’s chaos is that some of the pro-Trump protesters will go back and celebrate at an Olive Garden and to spend the night at a Holiday Inn.”

Hannity said he “happen[s] to love the Olive Garden.”

“But I guess a Vanderbilt wouldn’t know that,” the host continued. “There’s nothing wrong with being a Vanderbilt, but there is nothing wrong with Olive Garden."

Carlson said his producer ordered Olive Garden for their entire staff that day. 

Update: Cooper responded after backlash, acknowledging what he said came off the wrong way.

"Celebrating the criminal act they had taken part in. I was trying to remark about the seeming casualness of the behavior that we were all witnessing at that moment after the attack. The high-fiving, the laughing, the celebratory atmosphere, as if they had actually accomplished something," he said, clarifying that he is not too "fancy" to eat at Olive Garden.

"Just for the record, I like the Olive Garden. I like the artichoke dip even though it has spinach it in it, which I hate. Yes, I know, it’s an appetizer with breadsticks. It’s like a whole meal."