Erica Garner Accuses ABC News of ‘Exploitation of Black Pain and Grief’ for Ratings

“I was upset because #ABC lied and used me, my pain, and suffering for ratings,” Garner tweets

Erica Garner
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Erica Garner is furious with ABC, claiming the network “guaranteed” her a chance to directly ask President Obama questions during a town hall event that aired on Thursday night but was “lied to” and it “was nothing short of full exploitation of black pain and grief.”

“ABC is using black lives [for ratings],” Garner said in a Huffington Post video.

Garner is the daughter of the late Eric Garner, the unarmed black man that was killed in 2014 in Staten Island when a New York police officer used a chokehold while trying to arrest him. Garner says that ABC mislead her in order to get her to attend the event in Washington, D.C. to boost ratings. She eventually got to speak with Obama off camera, but said she had to cause a scene to get noticed.

“It’s a shame that black people have to scream, yell and become belligerent to have our voices heard,” Garner said. “Enough is enough.”

“I was not upset about not speaking with . I was upset because lied and used me, my pain, and suffering for ratings,” Garner wrote on Twitter.

Garner also tweeted that her agreement with ABC to attend the ton hall included, “If any questions get asked on air, mine would.”

“We took an extra 30 minutes to get to as many people as we could during the town hall. The President spoke to several people after the event ended, including at length with Erica Garner,” ABC News said in a statement to TheWrap.

It should be noted that the ABC town hall did not feature commercials or a corporate sponsor.

Garner even warned viewers about the pre-taped event before it aired, “I need all of you to know that this town hall that will air at 8pm is a sham. They shut out ALL real and hard questions.”

She also retweeted, “Obama tap dance better than Gregory Hines,” following her brief off-air chat with Obama.

Garner’s Huffington Post video and other tweets are below:

 

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