White House, reporters back down from troubled reporter at press conference

A White House press conference featuring the “Ted Lasso” team was briefly derailed Monday after a reporter and disruptor repeatedly intervened, prompting the White House Correspondents’ Association and other reporters to back off.

Simon Atiba, correspondent for Today News Africa, started screaming as press secretary Karen Jean-Pierre took to the stage, joined by actors Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Twipe Gemoh.

Atiba, who often speaks in the briefing room and has in the past clashed with Jean-Pierre, alleged that he and others in the room were being “discriminated” because of the questions they wanted to ask.

“It’s been seven months. You haven’t called me,” Atiba said.

“Hi guys. Welcome to the press briefing room,” Jean-Pierre told the “Ted Lasso” representatives in attendance before Atiba again began to voice his grievances.

While Atiba had previously raised similar allegations of discrimination and criticized Jean-Pierre during his briefings, Monday’s outburst drew more than usual rebuttals from other reporters in the room who were frustrated that Atiba was delaying and derailing proceedings.

“Sorry to our guests. Kelly O’Donnell, NBC News correspondent and WHCA vice president, said, “We apologize.

When Atiba interjected again before national security spokesman John Kirby took the stage, several reporters responded.

“If you have complaints, you have to bring them to her later…the press corps is tired of dealing with this,” said Jeff Mason, a Reuters correspondent and former president of the WHCA.

“You have to mind your manners when you’re here,” Brian Karem, a veteran White House correspondent who regularly attends briefings, told Atiba.

“If you have a problem, you bring it up afterward,” he said, “but you run into everyone here who is just trying to do their job.”

In her reply, Jean-Pierre referred to the history of the press briefing room which she said “must have decency”.

“I understand there will be give and take. That’s how the press briefing has gone for decades, before me and I always will respect that but what I won’t do, what I won’t appreciate is disrespect for your colleagues and disrespect for guests who are here to talk, who were here to talk and it’s a very important issue.” It’s mental health.” “And what just happened in the last 10 or 15 minutes is unacceptable.”

Associated Press reporter Zek Miller, also a former WHCA president, opened the questioning of Jean-Pierre by apologizing for the incident earlier in the briefing.

“I just want to express our apologies to the press corps to the people watching at home on the screen I saw earlier. Our responsibility is to them,” Miller said.

After the briefing, WHCA President Tamara Keith, in a note to members, lamented Monday’s “severe breakdown in fitness.”

“What happened today created a hostile work environment for everyone in that room,” Keith wrote.

Monday was far from the first time Atiba has disrupted a press conference.

Last May, he was reprimanded after he yelled at another reporter to complain about not being called out enough at former press secretary Jen Psaki’s final briefing. The WHCA warned Atiba that he might be fired after that incident.

Last September, he was called into a press conference with Kirby and asked the former Pentagon press secretary to explain his role, claiming, “Everywhere I go, black people tell me the reason you’re in the White House is to undermine the first black female secretary.”

He also yelled similarly when other reporters were called during Dr. Anthony Fauci’s recent briefing late last year, prompting a rebuke from Jean-Pierre.

In December, Jean-Pierre abruptly ended the briefing when, after calling The Hill to ask a question, Atiba began shouting complaints that he had not been called on frequently and would not relent.

Atiba previously appeared on Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s show to complain about being discriminated against. He is scheduled to appear on The Carlson Show Monday night.

Updated 5:06 pm