News Outlets Face Backlash After Describing Maryland School Shooter as ‘Lovesick’
ABC News and Time are among some of the publications under scrutiny.
After another school shooting, the media seems to still be learning about appropriate terminology. Media outlets from ABC News to Time Magazine reported that the Maryland School Shooter as a “lovesick teen” in numerous headlines Thursday. Problematic for a number of reasons, Twitter ignited to correct the publications for their euphemistic attempt to protect the perpetrator.
A “lovesick teen” doesn’t shoot a girl who broke his heart. A psychopath does. Do better with this headline. https://t.co/3VfHrZZMU9
— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) March 22, 2018
When I was a lovesick teen I listened to K-Ci & Jojo and Brian McKnight albums on repeat, I didn’t walk into school and shoot my ex-gf in the face. Just saying. https://t.co/sjmbwPSwxg
— dylan (@dyllyp) March 23, 2018
I literally just published a story about this but hey @ABC and @AP, a teen who shot and ALMOST KILLED his ex girlfriend and another classmate because he couldn’t accept that relationship was over is not “lovesick.” He’s ABUSIVE. pic.twitter.com/5c9hCl7wa7
— Ashley Alese Edwards (@AshleyAlese) March 22, 2018
Places you should see the words “lovesick teen”:
-in a pop song
-in a 13 year old’s diary
-in a Cosmo articlePlaces you shouldn’t see “lovesick teen”:
-in a statement by police or a news headline describing a murderer pic.twitter.com/F3qFdT5yu6— Mykie (@Glam_And_Gore) March 23, 2018
The boy responsible for Tuesday’s horror at Great Mills High School in St. Mary’s County was 17-year-old Austin Rollins. Shots broke out just after classes were set to begin Tuesday, with Rollins’ father’s legally owned gun. Maryland’s legislation does not allow anyone under age 21 to possess a handgun unless it is required for their employment.
As deduced by the police, “All indications suggest the shooting was not a random act of violence.”
The headlines arose the same day news broke announcing that the victim he had targeted, ex-girlfriend Jaelynn Willey had been declared brain dead and would be taken off of life support that evening, as decided by her family.
The mother of Willey said, “On Tuesday… our lives changed completely and totally forever. My daughter was hurt by a boy who shot her in the head and took everything from our lives.”
Willey was one of two victims, the other was Desmond Barnes. In an e-mail to The Associated Press, his mother said the family is “eternally grateful” that her boy is “alive, doing well, and in good spirits.”
