CNN confuses Obama with Bin Laden in horrendous on-air gaffe

CNN suffered yet different embarrassment Friday aft utilizing a graphic with the sanction 'Obama bin Laden' connected air. 

The struggling web faces ample occupation cuts arsenic ratings ellipse the drain and CEO Mark Thompson attempts to shed the network's wide image.

Anchor Boris Sanchez was presenting a communicative connected the web Friday day regarding the relocation of amerciable migrants to Guantanamo Bay Detention Center nether Donald Trump. 

At 1 point, they brought up the attraction of a known subordinate of the violent Osama bin Laden, Abu Zubaydah, America's longest-held captive successful the warfare against terror. 

The web graphic headlined the bin Laden pal as: 'OBAMA BIN LADEN ASSOCIATE: ABU ZUBAYDAH.'

CNN's mistake mixes up the sanction of the mastermind down the September 11 attacks successful 2001 with erstwhile President Barack Obama. 

The web did not look to notation the mistake, though societal media instantly jumped connected it.

Some adjacent earnestly suggested that the goof was 'intentional.'

'That was not a misprint. Shame connected whoever did that,' wrote 1 wide spectator connected X.

'@CNN is simply a joke,' added another.

DailyMail.com has reached retired to CNN for comment. 

The aboriginal of CNN looks grim arsenic experts accidental the liberal web is 'in decline' aft staffers faced wage cuts and a circular of layoffs. 

Jeff McCall, a communications prof astatine Indiana's Depauw University, told the Los Angeles Times that the network's layoffs are not a bully look for CNN. 

'Right now, you deliberation of their marque arsenic successful decline. The layoffs; that’s a problem. And it looks truly atrocious erstwhile you suffer libel suits,' McCall said. 

The layoffs were initially reported successful November and travel astir 100 cuts the web made implicit the summer.

Staffers with the web person adjacent spoken retired astir CNN's caller moves, arsenic an anonymous seasoned with the presumption told LA Times: 'One happening we bash cognize astir the future, it's not going to beryllium the aforesaid money.' 

The network's CEO Mark Thompson, who came aboard successful 2023, announced a unit chopped of 200 employees connected the network's TV side, portion besides sharing that CNN would absorption much connected caller products related to integer media consumption. 

The institution antecedently launched a subscription service, CNN+, successful 2022, but the $100 cardinal investment rapidly failed aft Warner Bros. Discovery axed the platform conscionable days aft taking implicit the network. 

Now, Thompson says helium plans connected launching a caller merchandise focused connected manner aboriginal this twelvemonth successful a bid to enactment up with the aboriginal of quality streaming. He has acceptable a extremity of making $1 cardinal successful integer gross by 2030, the outlet reported.

In summation to layoffs and wage cuts, CNN has besides seen a monolithic diminution successful TV ratings, while FOX enjoys its champion ratings yet. 

In the midst of the web shake-up, apical CNN employees person said goodbye to the presumption - immoderate astatine their ain escaped will, and others who had nary choice. 

Last week, fashionable CNN writer Jim Acosta, known for speaking retired against President Donald Trump, confirmed helium was parting ways with the web successful a shocking on-air announcement. 

Concluding his CNN Newsroom amusement conscionable earlier 11 americium ET connected January 28, Acosta, 53, looked straight into the camera  and said: 'One last connection - don't springiness successful to the lies.

'Don't springiness successful to the fear. Hold connected to the information and to hope,' helium continued, yet calling Donald Trump 'a tyrant.' 

'Even if you person to get retired your phone,' helium went on. 'Record that message. "I volition not springiness successful to the lies. I volition not springiness successful to the fear." Post it connected your societal media, truthful radical tin perceive from you, too.'

The seasoned newsman - who spent 18 years astatine CNN - was humiliated earlier this period erstwhile reports emerged indicating helium was going to beryllium axed from his 10 americium timeslot.

A caller Situation Room bid headed by Wolf Blitzer volition instrumentality implicit the slot instead, CNN CEO Mark Thompson confirmed past week, portion unleashing immoderate 200 firings.

Acosta, who lives successful Washington, DC, was offered a graveyard midnight to 2am slot by him alternatively - an connection helium flatly rejected.

Just days aft his announcement, Acosta appeared to instrumentality a swipe astatine his aged network, sharing a scathing sketch from editorial cartoonist Michael de Adder. 

The sketch showed Acosta leaving the presumption with a container of his belongings. In the background, his shadiness loomed purposely larger than his smiling cartoon, with the connection 'integrity' emblazoned implicit it. 

Since his departure, Acosta has announced a brand-new Substack. 

'Welcome to my caller venture,' Acosta told much than 2 cardinal followers connected the platform, portion repeating a informing helium delivered during his last broadcast.

Chris Wallace, different CNN quality anchor, announced helium was quitting the station after 4 years there. 

Wallace was paid a reported $7 cardinal a twelvemonth from CNN, but aft being informed that helium could enactment connected with a overmuch little salary, helium said goodbye, Puck News reported.