Katie Couric Hopes Gun Doc Controversy Sparks Bigger Conversation

Katie Couric said she “didn’t feel comfortable” with the controversial edit in her recent documentary on guns, but hopes it starts a broader conversation about the gun control in America.

“I can understand the objection of people who did have an issue about it,” Couric said at TheWrap’s Power Women Breakfast in New York on Thursday morning. “Having said that, I think we have to focus on the big issue of gun violence. It was my hope that, when I approached this topic, that this would be a conversation starter.”

Couric was criticized because the documentary added a long pause before a gun enthusiast answered a question in her documentary “Under the Gun.” The question was about how to prevent terrorists from getting guns, and the pause made it appear the gun enthusiast was at a loss for words.

Also Read: Lena Dunham and Katie Couric to Keynote TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast New York

Couric did not edit the interview herself, and said last week that she questioned director Stephanie Soechtig and an editor about the pause when she screened the film, “and was told that a ‘beat’ was added for, as she [Soechtig] described it, ‘dramatic effect.'”

Gun-rights groups and right-leaning media were livid at the change to the interview, which came to light when an audio transcript of the exchange was leaked.

Couric said the documentary will not be re-done to fix the edit.

TheWrap’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Sharon Waxman, film and theater producer Paula Wagner, A+E Networks president and CEO Nancy Dubuc and The Girl’s Lounge Founder Shelley Zalis hosted the breakfast.

Also Read: Katie Couric Offers 'Regret,' Admits 'Misleading' Change to Gun Documentary

Couric is the current Yahoo global news anchor and a legend in her field. The former “Today” show staple is an anti-cancer advocate, documentary film producer and New York Times best-selling author of “The Best Advice I Ever Got: Lessons From Extraordinary Lives.”

The Power Women Breakfast series brings together influential women of entertainment, media, technology and brands in key cities to network and connect. TheWrap has built a broad community of professional women who are decision makers and mothers, leaders and wives, innovators and activists now in four cities Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C.

Previous speakers at TheWrap’s Power Women breakfast series have included Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren, comedian Chelsea Handler, Game of Thrones’ actress Emilia Clarke, activist-actress Selma Hayek, ‘Billions’ star Malin Akerman, producer and entrepreneur Gail Berman, California Attorney General Kamala Harris, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, New York Times Columnist Maureen Dowd, media executive Nancy Tellem, digital executive Susan Lyne, technology journalist Kara Swisher and many others.

Lena Dunham, Katie Couric Join TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast NYC (Photos)

Lena Dunham and Katie Couric attended TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC on June 9.
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TheWrap's CEO Sharon Waxman and "Girls" actress Lena Dunham arrive at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast NYC.
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"Orange Is the New Black" actress Jackie Cruz arrives at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast.
"Becoming Mary Jane" actress Gabrielle Union arrives at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast.
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The crowd listens to the discussion at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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TheWrap CEO and editor-in-chief Sharon Waxman hugs Lena Dunham at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast.
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Katie Couric speaks to Sharon Waxman at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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Katie Couric speaks to Sharon Waxman at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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Katie Couric speaks to Sharon Waxman at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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Lena Dunham on stage at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast NYC on June 9.
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Katie Couric at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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The audience at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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The crowd at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast.
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Kathryn Finney, founder of The Budget Fashionista, speaks during a panel at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast.
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TheWrap's CEO Sharon Waxman introduces a panel at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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Rachel Sklar, founder of Change the Radio/Theli.st, speaks on stage at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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Rachel Sklar and Kathryn Finney arrive at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast on June 9.
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The audience at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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From left, "Eclipsed" director Liesl Tommy, "Eclipsed" actress Pascale Armand, "Orange Is the New Black" actress Jackie Cruz and "Eclipsed" actress Zainab Jah at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast.
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"Roots" actress Anika Noni Rose on stage with TheWrap's CEO Sharon Waxman at NYC's Power Women Breakfast.
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Rachel Sklar speaks at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
Katie Couric speaks to the audience during the TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast on June 9.
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Tony-nominated actress Pascale Armand ("Eclipsed") listens to a panel at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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Lena Dunham speaks with Sharon Waxman at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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The audience at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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President and Chief Executive Officer of A+E Networks Nancy Dubuc attends TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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"Eclipsed" Actress Zainab Jah arrives at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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TheWrap's CEO Sharon Waxman poses with Katie Couric and Lena Dunham at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast.
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Rachel Sklar, Kathryn Finney, founder of The Girls' Lounge Shelley Zalis, founder of The Pink Ceiling Cindy Whitehead and Sharon Waxman during a panel at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast.
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Gabrielle Union listens to a panel at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast
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Founder and CEO of The Girls' Lounge Shelley Zalis speaks during a panel at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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The audience at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast on June 9.
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Anika Noni Rose on stage with Sharon Waxman at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast.
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Anika Noni Rose at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast NYC.
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Shelley Zalis speaks to another guest at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC on June 9.
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TheWrap's CEO Sharon Waxman speak with panelists at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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Film and theater producer Paula Wagner listens to a panel at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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An audience member listens to a panel at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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An audience member listens to a panel at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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"Eclipsed" director Liesl Tommy, Pascale Armand and Zainab Jah at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC.
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Cindy Whitehead, Paula Wagner, Sharon Waxman and Shelley Zalis at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast NYC.
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Liesl Tommy, Entertainment Director at Essence Magazine Cori Murray, Pascale Armand and Zainab Jah at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast.
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Kathryn Finney at TheWrap's Power Women Breakfast in NYC on June 9.
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