ABC News has suspended a correspondent for inaccurate reporting on the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, according to The Los Angeles Times.
What happened: Kobe and Gianna Bryant died Sunday in a tragic helicopter crash, which ended the lives of the two Bryants and seven others.
- Matt Gutman, a chief national correspondent for NBC News, reported that all four of Bryant’s daughters died in the crash. The report proved to be inaccurate.
What they’re saying: Gutman later apologized for the matter once the news of Gianna’s death became public.
- Per E! News, Gutman has been suspended for the mistake. He apologized after the error and then apologized again on Sunday.
- ABC News in a statement (via E! News): “Reporting the facts accurately is the cornerstone of our journalism. As he acknowledged on Sunday, Matt Gutman’s initial reporting was not accurate and failed to meet our editorial standards.”
- Gutman statement (via CNN): “We are in the business of holding people accountable. And I hold myself accountable for a terrible mistake, which I deeply regret,” Gutman said Wednesday. “I want to personally apologize to the Bryant family for this wrenching loss and any additional anguish my report caused.”