Parkland survivor David Hogg, a key face for the Never Again movement, has been the target of conspiracy theories that he’s a “crisis actor.” Yesterday, he also fell target to scrutiny from Fox host Laura Ingraham after she claims he “whined” about getting college rejections.
David Hogg Rejected By Four Colleges To Which He Applied and whines about it. (Dinged by UCLA with a 4.1 GPA…totally predictable given acceptance rates.) https://t.co/wflA4hWHXY
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) March 28, 2018
Lauren, Hogg’s sister and also a Parkland survivor, came to his defense.
“How low are your ratings @IngrahamAngle that you have to start attacking my brother’s grades to get attention?” Lauren tweeted. “If you ask me, he is more articulate than you and has far better character. Man, that’s real low even for you.”
And here’s the kicker: “Coming from a 14 year old, please grow up.”
How low are your ratings @IngrahamAngle that you have to start attacking my brother’s grades to get attention? If you ask me, he is more articulate than you and has far better character. Man, that’s real low even for you. Coming from a 14 year old, please grow up. #NeverAgain https://t.co/CgUVeGRfxP
— Lauren Hogg (@lauren_hoggs) March 28, 2018
She also called on First Lady Melania Trump:
HEY @FLOTUS MY BROTHER IS LITERALLY GETTING CYBERBULLIED BY @IngrahamAngle.
ANY COMMENTS?
— Lauren Hogg (@lauren_hoggs) March 29, 2018
“It’s been kind of annoying having to deal with that,” Hogg, who has a 4.2 GPA, told TMZ of the four colleges that denied his application, adding, “we’re changing the world,” so it’s been hard to focus on those rejection letters.
In fact, he wasn’t whining, per say. He seemed to be a pretty good sport about it.
Hogg told TMZ that he wasn’t surprised about the rejections because “there are a lot of amazing people who don’t get into college — not only that do things like I do, but because their voices aren’t heard in the tsunami of people that apply every year.”
After his sister’s tweets, Hogg called on Ingraham’s advertisers (which he compiled a list of) to boycott her show.
New York Daily News reported that Rachael Ray’s Nutrish is pulling their ads because, as a spokesperson said, “the comments she has made are not consistent with how we feel people should be treated.” At least two more companies, TripAdvisor and Wayfair, were soon to follow.
Laura Ingraham apologizes
Ingraham took to Twitter this afternoon with an apology.
“Any student should be proud of a 4.2 GPA —[including] @DavidHogg111,” she wrote. “On reflection, in the spirit of Holy Week, I apologize for any upset or hurt my tweet caused him or any of the brave victims of Parkland.”
Any student should be proud of a 4.2 GPA —incl. @DavidHogg111. On reflection, in the spirit of Holy Week, I apologize for any upset or hurt my tweet caused him or any of the brave victims of Parkland. For the record, I believe my show was the first to feature David…(1/2)
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) March 29, 2018
“For the record, I believe my show was the first to feature David immediately after that horrific shooting and even noted how ‘poised’ he was given the tragedy,” she continued. “As always, he’s welcome to return to the show anytime for a productive discussion.”
… immediately after that horrific shooting and even noted how “poised” he was given the tragedy. As always, he’s welcome to return to the show anytime for a productive discussion. WATCH: https://t.co/5wcd00wWpd (2/2)
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) March 29, 2018
Hogg responded to the apology, accusing Ingraham of only issuing it to prevent more advertisers from pulling the plug:
I 100% agree an apology in an effort just to save your advertisers is not enough. I will only accept your apology only if you denounce the way your network has treated my friends and I️ in this fight. It’s time to love thy neighbor, not mudsling at children. https://t.co/H0yWs4zMGk
— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) March 29, 2018
His sister had a response of her own:
*Waits till we boycott her advertisers to apologize* wow.
Hey @IngrahamAngle please just be a real journalist. Focus on the important stories and use your platform to help people not hurt them. #neveragain #ShutUpAndBeObjective #MarchForOurLives https://t.co/wZRBlHk4XS
— Lauren Hogg (@lauren_hoggs) March 29, 2018
“Please just be a real journalist,” Lauren wrote. “Focus on the important stories and use your platform to help people not hurt them.”
