CBS is doing the most here of late.
You read our story on Nicki Minaj slamming the network for meticulously switching the focus to the television viewing audience (versus her performance of “Anaconda”) while she did her set on the airing of Fashion Rocks.
During Thursday night’s broadcast of the Baltimore Ravens game, Rihanna’s “Run This Town” [whose lyrics, ironically, begin-in with]:
Feel it comin’ in the air
Hear the screams from everywhere
I’m addicted to the thrill
It’s a dangerous love affair
…was set to air with actor Don Cheadle narrating over the song, but due to Ray Rice’s recent domestic wrangle; CBS scrapped airing of the tune during the game altogether.
Why? Probably because they didn’t want to shift your focus such that yous had a sudden attack of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, considering the fact that Rihanna herself was the victim of domestic violence at the hands of her (then) boyfriend singer Chris Brown–either that, or the predicted they would be inundated with letters and Tweets about how in poor taste it [would have been] having used a song by Rihanna during such an ironic time that one of its players is under the microscope for domestic violence right now.
The world over was invited to see just what went on behind the closed doors of the elevator car that held (the now) suspended ball player Ray Rice-shown striking his (then) girlfriend Janay.
It is no laughing matter, what Rice is caught on tape doing, and in addition of CBS omitting Rihanna’s song from being played overhead, they also scrapped a comedic segment that was originally planned for the broadcast, and in its place, opened with a pregame show report by CBS This Morning anchor Norah O’Donnell who as well, interviewed the NFL Commissioner shortly after the leaking of the infamous elevator incident.
As for CBS’ reasoning for changing focus? They stated [quote]:
“We thought journalistically and from a tone standpoint, we needed to have the appropriate tone and coverage” [quote], said CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus to Sports Illustrated.
