One Philadelphia news anchor is catching heat online after comparing a real-life shooting to the final episode of Breaking Bad.
Joyce Evans, an anchor and reporter for the local Fox News station WTXF-TV, tweeted out a teaser Sunday evening for her coverage of the shooting during the 10 p.m. broadcast.
The shooting took place earlier on Sunday, leaving one person dead and five others in the hospital. In what seems like an attempt to be relevant and eye-catching, Evans made a reference to popular TV show Breaking Bad.
Thought “Breaking Bad” was hot last Sunday? @FOX29philly See who’s breakin’ bad in SW Philly leavin’ 6 people SHOT – Tonite at Ten!
— Joyce Evans (@JoyceEvansFox29) October 7, 2013
Her tweet almost immediately brought backlash, as angry Twitter users criticized Evans for comparing a TV show to a real incident in which someone was killed and several others were injured.
Evans defended herself on Twitter, claiming that people did not understand why she made the comparison. She said the tweet was “not a joke” and that the “very real life drama” did not have a “tv ending.” After a few more tweets, Evans’ Twitter account went silent. The tweets have not been deleted, however.
At the time of this article, WTXF-TV had not returned request for comment.
@JoyceEvansFox29 @fox29philly @loctastic this tweet sounds like it was written by a sociopath
— Max L. (@LonettoMB) October 7, 2013
@Mobute worst local news tease ever?
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) October 7, 2013
@JoyceEvansFox29 @dhm @FOX29philly Tasteless tweet of the night.
— Ellen Gray (@elgray) October 7, 2013
@JoyceEvansFox29 @amandarykoff @FOX29philly Is that for real? We make jokes in light of a serious tragedy? WTF? #tasteless #trashjournalism
— Teebz (@TeebzHBIC) October 7, 2013
Last tweet NOT AST ALL A JOKE. Very real life drama was the point as oppose to one that end on tv. That was my point
— Joyce Evans (@JoyceEvansFox29) October 7, 2013
@WolfpackPM @FOX29philly Miss my point. Very real, not a tv ending
— Joyce Evans (@JoyceEvansFox29) October 7, 2013
@NFL4SanAntonio @FOX29philly Nice. Missed my point. This is a very real life drama. Not gonna have a tv ending
— Joyce Evans (@JoyceEvansFox29) October 7, 2013
@Frog_sox @FOX29philly Not a joke . Miss my point Very real life. not tv ending
— Joyce Evans (@JoyceEvansFox29) October 7, 2013