After Republic TV’s chief anchor Arnab Goswami got schooled by a panellist on his show that aired on Thursday, Times Now’s Rahul Shivshankar was condemned for his distasteful anchoring.
Shivshankar who was conducting a debate on prime time blurted out the wrong name repeatedly while insulting a guest panel member.
The guest members – Bohdan Nahaylo, chief editor of Kyiv Post and Daniel McAdams, Head of Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity– were talking to Rahul Shivshankar regarding the Russia-Ukraine crsis when the anchor asked the wrong guest to take a ‘chill pill’.
Shivshankar started addressing Bohdan Nahaylo as ‘Mr McAdams’ and threw a series of insults going so far as to blame him and “his people” for colonising the East.
“Mr McAdams, no hang on, hang on, if you are so concerned about Ukrainians get off the fence and put boots on the ground. Don’t lecture us here in India ok? I am not going to hear your lecture,” Shivshankar said.
However, Shivshankar intended that statement for Bohdan Nahaylo and not to Daniel McAdams.
Even as the real McAdams looked confused, Shivshankar continued using his name while berating the wrong guest. After about a minute when things spiralled out of control, the editor in chief of the Kyiv Post got angry and shouted at the anchor asking him why the anchor was addressing him when he hasn’t said a word.
“I am not talking. I am not talking. It’s the other guy who is talking. I haven’t been able to say a word,” shouted Daniel McAdams to Shivshankar.
Even at this point the editor-in-chief of Times Now did not understand his error and carried on with his insults.
When McAdams, who was finally allowed to talk, he evidently upset said, “Dear host I have not said a word yet. I don’t know why you are yelling at me.” Shivshankar realised his mistake, paused briefly and then apologised for his confusion.
Reactions on social media:
The general growing distaste for select media houses intensified with Twitter users mockingly Shivshankar for his faux pas. The hashtag #IamMrMcAdams was trending with the most hilarious responses.
Here are some of the reactions:
