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Subscribe to RSSTODAY’s exclusive interview with Kayla Manson, the 13-year-old charged as an accomplice in the text-rage beating of Josie Ratley, has been generating a lot of buzz on Twitter and elsewhere online. When asked by Meredith Vieira to repeat the contents of texts sent to Ratley by the alleged attacker, 15-year-old Wayne Treacy, Manson did so – dropping the “c-word” in the process.
We have removed the audio from our Central, Mountain and Pacific feeds, as well as online. Vieira also apologized on air.
“I just want to apologize to our audience at home for some of the rough language in that last segment in that last half hour,” Vieira said. “And it’s really not Kayla’s fault. I asked her about the text message, and she didn’t realize — she was giving me verbatim what was in it. She didn’t know there are certain words you can’t say on television. Anyway, we do apologize for that.”
For more from TODAY’s exclusive interview, click here.
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It was totally inappropriate to have this young teen on television in an interview. The issues could have been handled differently without exposing her to more public scrutiny. I don't think her interview helped gain any sympathy for her if that was the intent. Prerecording the interview might have prevented the language issues and the inadvisability of airing the interview. The Today Show's standards are slipping.
I agree wholeheartedly - and she said it TWICE. You would think after the first time someone would have been sitting there with their finger on the buzzer. Shame on Merideth for not preparing properly for this interview. The standards for morning news shows has certainly reached an all time low. I fail to see the reason for even having had this teen on for an interview.
Lastly, how sad that someone Ms. Manson's age knows that word and used that word during a live interview and not even realizing how offensive and inappropriate it was to do so.
The woman aressted for adultry in Batavia, NY was having intercourse on a picnic table. She is 41 and he is 27.
I have to agree with Chris. I think the standards at the Today Show, if not throughout the news division, have slipped too low, too adversarial, too sensationalist... just to get that "gotcha" moment, just to see someone cringe or spit back, or to get some tears on TV; and, of course, to get more viewers and more ad money.
I will be moving around the "dial" to find some other viewing that displays better taste.
At the beginning of the interview I was wondering why in the world anyone thought this was a good idea. However, after the inappropriate language and the explanation that the way children talk in school would shock adults took this interview to another plane.
I believe that is a red alert to adults that we need to act like adults and not accept this as "the way it is". Who else is going to stop bad behavior and teach children, 13 year olds are children, to value and respect others which includes how they talk to others.
Been watching the Today Show for over 20 years, but have noticed as has been mentioned that they are going more and more for the sensational. Meredith set this poor kid up on national television and have most likely embarrassed her and her family. I have already quit watching my local NBC News broadcasts (NBC Miami) due to a lack of professionalism and the Today Show has just lost me as well. A long-standing tradition in my home has come to an end. :-(
Congratulations to the reporters, staff, producers and directors of the Today Show. You can all take pride in having placed yourselves on par with Jerry Springer and the other whack-job talk show freaks. Your airing of the Kayla Manson interview on the pretext of presenting a news article sinks to the lowest level of journalism. I know it will never happen, but I hope numerous major sponsors will pull the plug on your lucrative advertising contracts.
What is next, the "real unwed mothers of Jersey having sex with their subteen son's"? Your attempt to represent that you collectively had no idea that the 13 year old might say something inappropriate is totally lame.
Shame on you all!
Did any one pick up on the Aunt's comment that she relys on Kayla to help take care of her son and what a hardship it was for her while Kayla was incarcerated for 30 days as all the responsibility for taking care of her son fell completely on her shoulders? I agree that this seems to be a sympathy ploy but we need to recognize that some parents, guardians, schools systems and communities are falling short when it comes to raising caring, responsible, compasionate children who know right from wrong. The comments made by Kayla, her aunt and lawyers are what we should be focusing on and doing something about. I think Merridith is a great interviewer and love watching the Today Show. What we need less of is reality TV shows. Don't knock the news.....do something about the idiots making it.
Did any one pick up on the Aunt's comment that she relys on Kayla to help take care of her son and what a hardship it was for her while Kayla was incarcerated for 30 days as all the responsibility for taking care of her son fell completely on her shoulders? I agree that this seems to be a sympathy ploy but we need to recognize that some parents, guardians, schools systems and communities are falling short when it comes to raising caring, responsible, compasionate children who know right from wrong. The comments made by Kayla, her aunt and lawyers are what we should be focusing on and doing something about. I think Merridith is a great interviewer and love watching the Today Show. What we need less of is reality TV shows. Don't knock the news.....do something about the idiots making it.
Up until two weeks ago, I was a Producer at TODAY and have now taken a job working in social media for NBC News.
A few people on our team have been reading the comments and I wanted to take a moment to respond.
I know first hand that everyone on the staff works hard to uphold the highest of standards. This morning was a mistake made by a young guest and the show responded quickly. After apologizing, the audio was removed from all other time zones.
Anyway, thought would add my thoughts. You can also email me at ryan.osborn [at] nbcuni.com.
Thanks for reading allDAY.
Ryan
Shame on NBC, the Today show producers, Matt, and Meridith for putting this girl on TV. You've just contributed to her sociopathic tendencies. I watched the interview and came away feeling that she doesn't even realize that what she did was wrong. Her aunt is contributing by trying to get her off because the 13 year old girl is her "Caregiver"? Give me a break.
Do not say "it was not her fault" and Meredith's comment that "it is ok, sweetie" was also pathetic. When are parents going to teach kids what is appropriate and what is not" Coarse language is never, never needed and certainly plays a part in harassing others, as this piece shows. The girl's language and actions should not be downplayed; just ask the victim's family!!!!
I agree kathy it was sick how they were treating her like she was the VICTIM !! plus the comment she doesn't know whats appropriate to say on TV !!!! yea I hear @!$%# alllllllll the time on TV !!!! you know i'm true blue American but seriously this country making me sick.
I hope the rules apply to NBC too. The FCC should take the appropriate action now.
Are you kidding me portraying this girl as sympathetic- She is not believable, I didn't know my boyfriend had was nuts. Meredith she is not a sweet innocent little girl.
OK, I have to get something off my chest. Why is it that society can find fault of every individual that was in that room and not look at the what is obvious? It's so easy to point blame when you are outside the box looking in! Obviously this is every day English for this girl! Where are the guidelines in the raising of this child and why hasn't a bar of Ivory soap ever lathered this girl's tonsils????? Some people out there are now gasping at that "old school" discipline, but stop and think.....IT WORKED ON OUR GENERATION!!!! Is this child a product of people who now a days choose to pop out a baby and not be responsible for it ever again? (and yes I do realize that sometimes children may not have a living parent and extended family take these children into their care) Guess what AMERICA.....you, as the parent or committed care giver, are responsible for that individual from his/her birth to adulthood! There is nothing wrong with teaching children ettiquite and basic manners! As a parent, I would not want a niece, or anyone for that matter, with this mouth to help raise my kid while I worked to put a roof over her head and food in her belly!!!! And why is everyone attacking the people at NBC??? HELLO! It is a live show! And how was Merideth suppose to conduct the interview and look in her "crystal ball" at the same time???? Merideth was wonderful in conducting herself in a professional manner the entire interview and I would like to see how many of the "complainers" be in the same exact situation and do a better job!