As fires raged and explosions echoed through downtown Los Angeles, one local news anchor stirred controversy by downplaying the chaos — even suggesting some people were enjoying the destruction.
During live coverage for ABC7, the anchor declined to describe the scene as a “riot,” despite plumes of smoke rising and vehicles burning behind her. She described the unfolding mayhem as “relatively peaceful,” moments before loud booms disrupted the broadcast.
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At one point, she even commented that “people seem to be having fun” while watching the fires spread — a statement that quickly went viral on social media and drew criticism for minimizing the violence and damage taking place.
The broadcast aired as protests in Los Angeles escalated over the weekend, part of a broader national wave of unrest linked to federal immigration enforcement and controversial arrests.
Viewers expressed outrage over the anchor’s tone, accusing her of ignoring the severity of the destruction. Critics pointed out the visible property damage and tense confrontations between law enforcement and demonstrators as clear signs that the situation had crossed the line into a riot.
Neither ABC7 nor the reporter in question has issued a public response to the backlash as of Monday afternoon.
