Gayle King on CBS controversy: 'Sometimes, you have hard conversations on television'

Gayle King described nan arguable "CBS Mornings" question and reply pinch writer and activistic Ta-Nehisi Coates arsenic a "learning" acquisition while speaking connected a sheet astatine nan Paley Center successful Manhattan connected Tuesday night. 

King, who attended nan sheet pinch chap anchors Nate Burleson and Tony Dokoupil, arsenic good arsenic featured big Vladimir Duthiers and nan show’s executive shaper Shawna Thomas, said they would not "shy distant from difficult conversations," but acknowledged they should beryllium mindful of really they attack "hot-button issues," according to nan Hollywood Reporter. 

"Life is hard. The news is hard. Sometimes, you person difficult conversations connected television," King said.

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"We cognize that it comes pinch a awesome responsibility. And we’re mindful of that," she added. "Certain topics you cognize are conscionable hot-button issues. You person to beryllium very observant astir really you inquire nan questions, really nan questions are received. I deliberation we don’t awkward distant from difficult conversations, either. So, I deliberation it’s been a learning point for everybody." 

CBS has been embroiled in turmoil this month amid aggregate controversies. 

Dokoupil faced soul uproar pursuing an question and reply successful which he was accused by colleagues of being excessively reliable connected Coates' anti-Israel views. The Jewish CBS News anchor irked wide colleagues by bluntly stating that Coates' book publication for illustration thing you would find successful "the backpack of an extremist." 

Dokoupil past pressed Coates connected whether he believes Israel has nan correct to exist. The book is heavy anti-Israel and has been criticized for omitting important discourse astir Palestinian coercion and nan Jewish state's bonzer information situation.

CBS activity reassured offended unit members that pursuing a review, they had concluded that nan question and reply did not meet nan company’s "editorial standards," the Free Press reported, which obtained audio of a institution unit meeting.

During nan sheet conversation, Thomas said location person been galore "hard" conversations, some internally and externally, astir nan interview, which they person "learned a batch from." 

"I’m hoping those conversations make america amended journalists and amended listeners," she said. 

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Dokoupil yet expressed regret for nan question and reply causing tumult pinch nan network's overseas correspondents, but not for his statement of questioning. Paramount Global chair Shari Redstone, who oversees CBS’ genitor company, defended Dokoupil pursuing nan interview, saying he had done a bully job.

Nate Burleson, Executive Producer Shawna Thomas, Vladimir Duthiers, Gayle King, Lisa Ling and Tony Dokoupi be "CBS Mornings" during PaleyFest 2024 astatine The Paley Museum connected October 22, 2024, successful New York City. (Getty Images)

The web besides sparked disorder this period erstwhile it aired 2 different answers to nan aforesaid mobility astir Israel successful its "60 Minutes" question and reply with Vice President Kamala Harris. 

The original clip from nan Democratic nominee first aired connected "Face nan Nation" connected Sunday.

CBS is accused of editing a clip of Harris that made her "word salad" answer, according to critics, sound much succinct and coherent. Although, its defenders person said nan changes were simply because of clip constraints. 

Former President Trump described nan "60 Minutes" edit of Harris arsenic an "unprecedented scandal" and called for CBS’ broadcasting licence to beryllium revoked. 

After weeks of staying silent contempt increasing disapproval complete nan interview, CBS published a statement Sunday evening addressing nan outrage that ensued airing nan 2 different answers to nan aforesaid questions. 

CBS News’ connection said Trump’s declare that "deceitful editing" was utilized is "false," and explained that producers utilized a "more succinct" information of Harris’ answer. The defiant connection defending nan edit fell level pinch critics, who person ramped up calls for nan web to merchandise an unedited transcript. 

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Fox News Digital has reached retired to CBS News for comment. 

Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.