Blitzer Promised Not To ‘Utter’ The Words ‘Paris Hilton,’ Then Devoted Whole Segment To Her

According to the Washington Times, CNN host Wolf Blitzer “vowed” on Friday “that during that afternoon’s entire news program, he would not bring himself to utter two words: Paris Hilton.”

As ThinkProgress noted earlier, The Times quoted a CNN producer promising that Blitzer had kept his promise. But while it’s true that Blitzer didn’t “utter” the words “Paris Hilton” on Friday, he did host a whole segment about Hilton and the issue of drunk driving. Watch it:

On Friday, CNN referenced Paris Hilton at least 135 times. Lou Dobbs was the only other anchor who refused to mention Hilton. As TVNewser notes, “He read an e-mail from a viewer who wrote, ‘Please do not give that woman air time on your show.’ He responded: ‘I assure you, your reference to her is the only mention of her name on this broadcast.’”

Transcript:

BLITZER: There’s a case out in Hollywood that’s spawning a media frenzy, and it’s drawing national attention to the issue of drunken driving.

Let’s go back to Carol Costello.

Carol, tell our viewers what you’re working on.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this should draw attention to drunk driving. Of course it is the case of Paris Hilton. And I know, but hear me out. Hidden in the extraordinary media circus is actual news.

The developments today, Hilton was taken from a California courtroom crying, “It’s not right!” and screaming for her mouth. A judge had ordered her back to jail, rejecting the sheriff’s decision to allow Hilton to serve her sentence at home with an electronic bracelet because of unspecified medical problems.

So, if Hilton had gotten special treatment, it ended right there.