Janai Norman rips ABC News, Michael Strahan for – Business News
Former “Good Morning America Weekend” anchor Janai Norman has been blasting ABC News and a few of its largest stars simply months after her ouster — raising eyebrows amongst her former colleagues on the Disney-owned community, in accordance with a report.
Norman has unleashed a string of blistering social media critiques of her outdated employer, together with accusing it and different information organizations of turning into “complicit in upholding white supremacy” in a video that took goal at “GMA” host Michael Strahan’s interview with the dad and mom of a useless Mississippi teen.
The unusually public broadsides have irked staffers at ABC News, in accordance with the Status e-newsletter, which reported Friday that Norman’s assaults have “raised eyebrows among many” on the community.
Former “GMA Weekend” anchor Janai Norman has unleashed a sequence of blistering critiques of ABC News simply months after her exit from the community.
Norman, whose contract was not renewed by ABC earlier this yr, ripped Strahan over his questioning of the dad and mom of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old who was discovered useless after a boating journey with associates.
During the interview, Strahan requested the grieving dad and mom why their son would have voluntarily stayed behind on Horn Island, in accordance with a clip included in Norman’s video.
“Bless Michael, ’cause he had it right the first time,” Norman stated in her commentary.
“The question should have been, ‘Do you believe that?’ Not asking these grieving parents to defend a decision that we don’t even know for certain their deceased son made.”
“That was not an objective question,” Norman continued. “Subjectively, I would say that it was insensitive.”
Norman then broadened her criticism past Strahan, accusing information shops of putting an excessive amount of trust in law enforcement.
Norman blasted Michael Strahan’s interview with Nolan Wells’ dad and mom, arguing that one of his questions requested the grieving couple to “defend a decision that we don’t even know for certain their deceased son made.”
Nolan Wells, 18, was discovered useless after a boating journey with associates in Mississippi; his dad and mom have publicly pressed for solutions about what occurred to their son. GoFundMe
“Many news organizations haven’t yet learned that they cannot always trust law enforcement as primary sources of credible information, and that is what plays into racial divisions,” Norman stated.
She cited what she referred to as the “historical context of Mississippi — the state with the most recorded lynchings in history” earlier than arguing that information organizations had failed to use enough skepticism to authorities investigating Wells’ death.
“By ignoring that context, news organizations become complicit in upholding white supremacy and, whether intentionally or unintentionally, end up playing into racial divisions,” Norman stated.
Norman has repeatedly gone after ABC’s handling of the Wells story, together with accusing the community of “gaslighting” the public and calling one of its digital tales “problematic” and “blame the victim.”
Her criticism of her former community has not stopped there.
She additionally took goal at “World News Tonight with David Muir” over its protection of a New Mexico ruling ordering Meta to pay $567 million in penalties in a child-safety case.
Norman in contrast ABC’s report with NBC’s protection and faulted her former community for not utilizing some of the choose’s stronger language.
Norman ripped “GMA” host Michael Strahan over his questioning of the dad and mom of Nolan Wells, calling one query “not an objective question” and “insensitive.”
“ABC never uses that language,” Norman stated. “They still tell the story, use the New Mexico attorney general for a strong soundbite, but it’s not as strong as the language of the judge.”
“And by not using it, it almost protects Meta,” she added. “It softens how the story lands.”
Norman has additionally been essential of ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jon Karl and Stephen A. Smith, the outspoken star of sister community ESPN.
The barrage is especially putting as a result of Norman left ABC solely months in the past after the community determined to not renew her contract.
Status, which first reported her exit in April, reported Friday that Norman was “not well-liked by ABC News brass” and that there had been friction between her and others inside the community, citing unnamed sources.
The e-newsletter additionally reported that ABC and Norman engaged in a “contentious back-and-forth” following her departure, primarily involving her forthcoming ebook.
According to Status, ABC needed details about the ebook’s contents and particulars. Norman later disclosed publicly that its cowl had been modified as a result of of her former employer.
She wrote on Instagram that she had modified the quilt picture “to respect ABC News’ wishes not to allow us use of the photo for the original cover,” in accordance with Status.
Norman had made clear after her departure that she was sad with how her ABC tenure ended.
“I’d hoped that we’d have more time, and it’s been hard on me that our time was cut short,” Norman stated in an Instagram farewell.
“I have loved my job. It has been a joy to connect with my co-workers and with viewers, to help keep you informed and entertained, and to create this community.”
“So it really breaks my heart that I don’t get to say goodbye,” she stated. “I’m so sorry that I don’t get to say goodbye.”
Norman additionally criticized “World News Tonight with David Muir” over its protection of a $567 million ruling in opposition to Meta, saying ABC’s report “almost protects Meta.” ABC by way of Getty Images
Norman had reportedly recognized since early March that ABC wouldn’t renew her contract and continued showing on air for a number of weeks, in accordance with a source cited by People.
But after information of the choice leaked in early April, she was abruptly pulled from the air regardless of her contract reportedly operating till early May, in accordance with the outlet.
The escalating struggle of phrases comes as Norman is set to seem Friday on the National Association of Black Journalists convention with former ABC News president Kim Godwin, in accordance with Status.
Godwin, who additionally didn’t reply to the e-newsletter’s request for remark, has teased that she is ready to debate her own expertise operating ABC News, in accordance with the report.
Whit Johnson, Janai Norman and Gio Benitez on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Norman stated she had “loved” her job at ABC however was heartbroken that she didn’t get an alternative to say goodbye to “GMA” viewers on air. ABC by way of Getty Images
Norman’s latest videos counsel she has few qualms about publicly scrutinizing the community the place she spent years building her profession.
“I used to do the news,” she has repeatedly advised her followers. “Now I just report the facts and uncomfortable truths.”
The Post has sought remark from Norman and ABC News.
