CNN political commentator Van Jones has apologized for making what he has now admitted was a “flat-out insensitive” comment about the deaths of children in Gaza.
On Friday’s broadcast of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher,” Jones was talking about disinformation campaigns being waged on social media by countries such as Iran and Qatar when he quipped:
“If you are a young person, you open up your phone and all you see is dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby, Diddy, dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby, dead Gaza baby. That’s basically all you are seeing.”
The audience laughed, but critics on social media slammed Jones, who later admitted in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that he “messed up on this one.”
“I’m sorry. I was trying to raise awareness about foreign adversaries creating chaos online ― which is undermining democracy everywhere,” explained the onetime adviser to former President Barack Obama.
“But what I said was easily misunderstood, and the way I said it was flat-out insensitive. Babies are dying every day in Gaza,” Jones continued. “Nobody should dispute that fact or make light of it in any way. To the people living in fear and burying family members every day, of all ages — I apologize.”
Jones said the comment was “insensitive and hurtful” in a later post.
“I apologize. The suffering of the people of Gaza — especially the children — is not a punch line. I’m deeply sorry it came across that way,” he added.
“What’s happening to children in Gaza is heartbreaking. As a father, I can’t begin to imagine the pain their parents are enduring, unable to protect their kids from unimaginable harm,” he said. “I’m praying and working for an immediate end to this war — and for peace and safety for every family caught in its path. I’m truly sorry for the pain my words caused to people who are already suffering more than anyone should.”