During the first criminal trial of a former president, the cable news coverage had an unexpected turn on Friday. The courtroom proceedings were unfolding slowly and quietly in Lower Manhattan, away from camera view, until an incident occurred that captured the attention of the nation.
Max Azzarello, a man from Florida, brought a sudden and shocking moment to the forefront when he set himself on fire near the courthouse. This incident highlighted the unpredictable nature of live cable news broadcasts, particularly for a network like CNN, known for its pioneering role in the genre.
The network’s legal analyst and anchor, Laura Coates, was conducting a live interview with a jury-selection expert when the unexpected events began to unfold. Azzarello started by throwing conspiracy pamphlets into the air, then proceeded to douse himself with an accelerant and ignite the flames.
In a moment of urgency and confusion, Ms. Coates initially misinterpreted the situation, exclaiming, “An active shooter, an active shooter is in the park outside the court,” before quickly correcting herself as the reality sank in. She urgently reported, “We have a man, he has set fire to himself, a man has emblazoned himself outside of the courthouse just now. Our cameras are turning right now.”
