CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins apologized Sunday evening after a series of old tweets emerged which revealed the White House correspondent had used a gay slur on the platform in posts seven years ago when she was a college student.
“When I was in college, I used ignorant language in a few tweets to my friends. It was immature but it doesn’t represent the way I feel at all. I regret it and apologize,” Collins said in a brief statement.
When I was in college, I used ignorant language in a few tweets to my friends. It was immature but it doesn’t represent the way I feel at all. I regret it and apologize.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) October 7, 2018
In the posts, Collins repeatedly used the slur “fag” about gay people, and in one said she would feel uncomfortable about having a lesbian as a roommate.
She later deleted the offending tweets after they received wide public attention.
https://twitter.com/ArthurSchwartz/status/1049048259073912832
https://twitter.com/ArthurSchwartz/status/1049045655690366976
Past tweets reveal @CNN reporter @kaitlancollins called people “fag” and was uncomfortable around lesbians.
cc: @CNNPR @mdornic @SamFeistCNN @DavidChalian pic.twitter.com/psicXjeHJR
— Log Cabin Republicans (@LogCabinGOP) October 7, 2018
“How can we expect fair reporting on LGBT issues from @kaitlancollins on @CNN after she tweeted this?!,” asked Gregory T. Angelo, the president of the Log Cabin Republicans, citing two of her past tweets.
Reached for comment, a CNN spokesperson directed TheWrap to a tweeted statement from the network’s Vice President of Communications Matt Dornic — who said he stood by Collins despite his own personal disappointment over the tweets.
“I’m a proud gay man. And I am a proud friend of @kaitlancollins,” he said. ‘Tho I’m disappointed that she ever used the word (even as an immature college kid), I can say with certainty it doesn’t reflect her feelings toward the LGBTQ community. She’s apologized and I accept that.”
I’m a proud gay man. And I am a proud friend of @kaitlancollins. Tho I’m disappointed that she ever used the word (even as an immature college kid), I can say with certainty it doesn’t reflect her feelings toward the LGBTQ community. She’s apologized and I accept that.
— Matt Dornic (@mdornic) October 7, 2018
Collins began her career at Tucker Carlson’s Daily Caller, where she worked as an entertainment reporter before moving to cover the White House for the conservative publication.
She was hired by CNN to cover the same beat in June 2017. Despite her right-wing roots, Collins took well to her latest employer. She is often seen delivering sharp questions to President Trump and other administration officials in televised press conferences.
Collins was even banned from covering a July meeting between Trump and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, precipitating a rare moment of media solidarity in her defense.