Katie Couric is taking the blame for the edited response in the documentary “Under the Gun” after backlash last week from critics who said it was misleading.
Gun activists featured in the documentary hosted by Katie Couric, said the editing of their response to a question was deceptive and misrepresented.
The scene of the film was a roundtable discussion with Couric and members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a pro-firearms group.
The news anchor is seen asking the members “If there are no background checks for gun purchasers, how do you prevent felons or terrorists from purchasing a gun?”
The shot immediately shows the individuals sitting awkwardly in complete silence for 9 seconds.
However, in a raw audio recording released by the Washington Free Beacon, directly after Couric is heard asking the question, the members respond quickly.
Couric posted her apology on the documentary website.
“As Executive Producer of ‘Under the Gun,’ a documentary film that explores the epidemic of gun violence, I take responsibility for a decision that misrepresented an exchange I had with members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL),” said Couric.
“When I screened an early version of the film with the director, Stephanie Soechtig, I questioned her and the editor about the pause and was told that a ‘beat’ was added for, as she described it, ‘dramatic effect,’ to give the audience a moment to consider the question,” she added.
The Virginia Citizens Defense League said the altered clip was “unbelievable and extremely unprofessional.”
Philip Van Cleave, the organization’s president, said the editing was done purposefully to make it seem like members didn’t have a response to Couric’s question, according to the Free Beacon.
“I regret that those eight seconds were misleading and that I did not raise my initial concerns more vigorously,” said Couric in her apology.
Last week Couric said she is “very proud of the film.”
Meanwhile, the documentary director, Stephanie Soechtig, has not spoken out to share the blame with Couric.
“Under the Gun” premiered on May 15 on Epix.
