'Shady journalists' must be investigated: Ashton Kutcher sparks debate

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The News Minute | November 20, 2014 | 6.27 pm IST
Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher’s comments supporting an Uber executive’ remarks that the personal lives of journalists who are critical of the company are fair game, have snowballed into a huge controversy.

Here’s a quick timeline of who said what, and when:

Journalist Sarah Lacy wrote an article accusing Uber of misogyny and sexism.

Senior Uber executive Emil Michael mooted the idea of investigating the personal lives of journalists who were critical of the company. At a private dinner, he said that four top opposition researchers and four journalists could be hired to help Uber fight back against the media.

Such a team would look into “your personal lives, your families,” and give the media a taste of its own medicine. He particularly targeted Lacy.
Later, he said that what he said was wrong, and that irrespective of the circumstances, the views were wrong.

Ashton Kutcher supported Emil’s views calling for investigation of “shady journalists”, and even laughed at comment on making journalists disappear.

This sequence of events has created a huge controversy, with many people expressing all shades of opinion. Lacy may have been on the right track or there may be no truth to the allegations in her story. But were the statements of Emil and their later endorsement by Kutcher justified?

Have a look at the tweets, and comment below!

What is so wrong about digging up dirt on shady journalist? @pando @TechCrunch @Uber
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014

We are all public figures now! “@RussADeCastro: @aplusk Depends if they are a PUBLIC FIGURE, like you, or not. http://t.co/ZFemzZshxV”
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014

I believe we live in a day were the first word has become "the word"
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014

Rumors span the globe before anyone has an opportunity to defend them selves.
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014

Questioning the source needs to happen... Always!
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014

So as long as journalist are interested and willing to print half truths as facts... Yes we should question the source.
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014

To be clear I speak for my self not @Uber
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014

This should be fun... Here comes the part where journalist explain why they should be exempt from ridicule and judgement and probing...
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014

U r all right and I'm on the wrong side of this ultimately. I just wish journalists were held to the same standards as public figures.
— ashton kutcher (@aplusk) November 19, 2014