CBS Faces Backlash Over Gayle King's Interview with Hamas Hostage's Father

In November 2023, Gayle King conducted a controversial interview with Thomas Hand, whose daughter was kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attacks in Israel. The interview raised eyebrows due to King's probing questions about the political implications of the situation, which some critics viewed as inappropriate given the context of a father's anguish over his missing child. This incident sparked allegations of a double standard at CBS, particularly in light of a recent interview where Tony Dokoupil faced backlash for his tough questioning of author Ta-Nehisi Coates regarding his anti-Israel views. Critics pointed out that while Dokoupil was reprimanded for his approach, King's aggressive questioning of Hand was seemingly accepted by CBS management. The situation escalated as Shari Redstone, CBS's majority shareholder, publicly supported Dokoupil, highlighting the internal conflicts within the network regarding journalistic standards and the treatment of sensitive topics. The controversy also included reports of CBS News executives advising against stating that Jerusalem is in Israel, further complicating the network's stance on Middle Eastern issues. This incident reflects broader tensions within media coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, raising questions about bias and the responsibilities of journalists in handling such delicate subjects.