BLK ALERTS

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    YG & Saweetie Soft Launch Their Coupledom In Mexico + YG’s Baby Mama Seemingly Reacts!

    May 31, 2023

    DaniLeigh Arrested for DUI and Hit-and-Run in Miami, Victim Reportedly Suffers Spine Fracture After Being Dragged

    May 31, 2023

    The Controversial ‘Lightyear’ Remains Available In The Disney+ Library – Rolling Out

    May 31, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Vimeo
    BLK ALERTS
    Subscribe Login
    • Home
    • Lifestyle
    • News
    • Crime
    • Entertainment
    • Opinion
    • Sports
    • Politics
    BLK ALERTS
    Home»News»National»Neil deGrasse Tyson Accused of Downplaying Mass Shootings, Issues Apology
    National

    Neil deGrasse Tyson Accused of Downplaying Mass Shootings, Issues Apology

    Emily Rahhal, DIBy Emily Rahhal, DIAugust 5, 2019Updated:August 6, 2019No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Neil deGrasse Tyson apologized for his tweet that faced criticism for downplaying the significance of mass shootings following two mass shootings that occurred within 48 hours of each other this past week.

    What We Know:

    • 22 people were killed in a shooting in El Paso, Texas on Saturday, August 3, immediately followed by a shooting in Dayton, Ohio on Sunday resulting in nine casualties; The suspect from the Dayton shooting is dead, while a suspect in the El Paso shooting has been identified. The shocking timing of the mass shootings has encouraged a public cry for stricter gun control laws and inspired political action around the nation.
    • Celebrity astrophysicist Tyson tweeted a response to these mass shootings on Sunday, sizing up the 34 gun deaths to other leading causes of death in the country including medical errors, the flu and suicide. “Often our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data,” Tyson wrote. Included in Tyson’s number 34 is the two people killed four days before the Ohio shooting when a gunman opened fire at the Mississippi Walmart he worked at.

    In the past 48hrs, the USA horrifically lost 34 people to mass shootings.

    On average, across any 48hrs, we also lose…

    500 to Medical errors
    300 to the Flu
    250 to Suicide
    200 to Car Accidents
    40 to Homicide via Handgun

    Often our emotions respond more to spectacle than to data.

    — Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) August 4, 2019

    • The tweet inspired public outrage as people say it normalizes and downplays gun violence in the United States, with tens of thousands of people responding immediately via Twitter including celebrities and journalists. People complained that the tweet downplays the unnecessary emotional scarring involved in gun violence.
    • “I think motive, avoidability and culpability are all forms of data that have perfectly logical emotional ramifications. You’d be angrier if somebody shot your kid than if your kid died of typhus, this is obvious and rational,” said Washington Post opinion writer Elizabeth Bruenig.
    • Tyson responded to the criticism with an apology posted to Facebook, explaining his Tweet in detail and apologizing for the unintended effects his controversial tweet had on readers. “My intent was to offer objectively true information that might help shape conversations and reactions to preventable ways we die. Where I miscalculated was that I genuinely believed the Tweet would be helpful to anyone trying to save lives in America,” Tyson wrote. He acknowledged that though his tweet may be factually true, it is unhelpful to a society trying to heal.
    • This is not the first recent public scandal Tyson has found himself involved in. He was accused of sexual misconduct by four women in November and December of 2018. Fox, National Geographic, the Museum of Natural History and the producers of “Cosmos” launched investigations; The results of these investigations remained confidential and Tyson remained involved with all companies involved.

    Tyson’s tweet sticks out amongst overwhelming public support and mourning following these tragic shootings.

    i think motive, avoidability and culpability are all forms of data that have perfectly logical emotional ramifications. you’d be angrier if somebody shot your kid than if your kid died of typhus, this is obvious and rational

    — elizabeth bruenig (@ebruenig) August 4, 2019

    Controversial Tweet Dayton Shooting El Paso Shooting mass shootings Neil DeGrasse Tyson tweet
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
    Previous ArticleMAGA Bomber’ Cesar Sayoc sentenced to 20 years
    Next Article John Legend and Rihanna slam Donald Trump over El Paso and Dayton shootings
    Emily Rahhal, DI

    Emily Rahhal was a Digital Intern at Black News Alerts.

    Related Posts

    Breaking: Carmelo Anthony Announces Decision On NBA Career

    May 22, 2023

    Was Texas Mall Shooter (Mauricio Garcia) Part Of A Group Effort?

    May 8, 2023

    8 killed and 7 Wounded in Texas Mall Shooting | VIDEOs

    May 7, 2023

    Neil deGrasse Tyson Uses Science to Show Why Whites Resemble Monkeys More Than Blacks | WATCH

    May 4, 2023
    Our Picks

    YG & Saweetie Soft Launch Their Coupledom In Mexico + YG’s Baby Mama Seemingly Reacts!

    May 31, 2023

    DaniLeigh Arrested for DUI and Hit-and-Run in Miami, Victim Reportedly Suffers Spine Fracture After Being Dragged

    May 31, 2023

    Tina Turner’s Funeral: Conflicting Reports of Private Farewell or an Unmatched Tribute to Outshine Aretha Franklin

    May 30, 2023

    Love Touchdown: Chanel Iman Scores an Engagement Ring on her Italian Babymoon with Davon Godchaux!

    May 30, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    Don't Miss
    Entertainment

    YG & Saweetie Soft Launch Their Coupledom In Mexico + YG’s Baby Mama Seemingly Reacts!

    By theYBFMay 31, 20230

    DaniLeigh Arrested for DUI and Hit-and-Run in Miami, Victim Reportedly Suffers Spine Fracture After Being Dragged

    May 31, 2023

    The Controversial ‘Lightyear’ Remains Available In The Disney+ Library – Rolling Out

    May 31, 2023

    Boosie Badazz Says Gunna ‘Might Be Done’ After Accepting Plea Deal in RICO Case | Video

    May 31, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from BLK ALERTS about our community.

    About Us
    About Us

    Your source for all things BLACK. BLKALERTS is crafted specifically for humans of the Brown and Black experience. The BLKALERTS app is available in all app stores.

    We're accepting new partnerships right now.

    Email Us: connect@blkalerts.com
    Contact: +1-929-251-6500

    Our Picks

    NBA Draft and More Trade News

    November 19, 2020
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
    • Home
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Crime
    • Sports
    • Careers
    © 2023 BLKALERTS is part of Urban Newsroom. Powered by UNMUTED NETWORKS.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Sign In or Register

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below.

    Lost password?