On Wednesday, North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis released a disturbing voicemail his office received from a radicalized TikTok user who threatened to kill him and chop up his body. Despite the disturbing nature of the message, none of the Big Three broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) decided to give the story any airtime on their Wednesday evening and Thursday morning flagship newscasts.
They refused to cover the threat, and yet, ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today took money from the controversial spying and social engineering app and aired advertisements talking about how great TikTok was.
Each ad lasted 30 seconds and featured feel-good, manipulative, user testimonials. ABC’s shared the story of Jasmine Vega who used the embattled, China-owned social media network to help her family’s restaurant. NBC’s had the story of Sarah Escherish whose grandma used the app at her senior living facility to make videos.
What they refused to share with viewers was this message left for Tillis: “Okay, listen. If you ban TikTok I will find you and shoot you. [Laughter] That's people's jobs. And that's my only entertainment. And people make money off there too, you know. I’m tryin’ to get rich like that. Anyways, I will shoot you and find you and cut you into pieces. [Laughter] Bye!”
This is a voicemail my office received last night. TikTok's misinformation campaign is pushing people to call their members of Congress, and callers like this who communicate threats against elected officials could be committing a federal crime. The Communist-Chinese aligned… pic.twitter.com/X9uW03neqw
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) March 20, 2024
The silence from the broadcast networks on the story was a continuation of their blackout from earlier this month, when they refused to report on other death threats and threats of suicide members of Congress were receiving from TikTok users.
In sharp contrast to the broadcast networks, Fox News Channel’s Special Report ran an entire segment on the threat and the congressional proposals to ban apps not divested from countries with adversarial relationships with America.
“You know, we have been hearing a lot of stories from Senate offices about some TikTok users calling and threatening these senators. Well tonight, Senator Thom Tillis is actually releasing audio of a voicemail he received from what appears to be a young woman threatening to kill him if he bans TikTok,” announced congressional correspondent Aishah Hasnie as she shared parts of the audio.
She also included comments from Tillis. “Does it actually help their case? It hurts their case. [Transition] Shame on TikTok for not discouraging it,” the Senator told the press in a gaggle.
In a reply to Tillis, TikTok claimed they did not support what the caller did. “Threats like this are unacceptable and we condemn this in the strongest possible terms,” they said on X.
Hasnie added that the fate of TikTok in America was still up in the air as Congress was still plotting the course:
Well, right now the Senate is moving cautiously on that House bill which requires the app divorce its Chinese owner ByteDance or face a ban. Today, senators got a classified briefing on TikTok and we could see soon CEO Shou Chew on the hill again as Chairwoman Maria Cantwell of the Commerce Committee says she wants a TikTok hearing, too. Her concern is whether the bill can hold up against lawsuits.
(…)
But Bret, nobody, not even Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is giving anyone any clues about when we could finally see some action on the floor.
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
March 21, 2024
6:06:14 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: Tonight, we’re getting a close look how seriously some fans of the social media app TikTok are taking the congressional effort that could result in its banishment. Congressional correspondent Aishah Hasnie is on Capitol Hill this evening with this story. Good evening, Aishah.
AISHAH HASNIE: Good evening to you, Bret. You know, we have been hearing a lot of stories from Senate offices about some TikTok users calling and threatening these senators. Well tonight, Senator Thom Tillis is actually releasing audio of a voice mail he received from what appears to be a young woman threatening to kill him if he bans TikTok. Listen to this.
[Cuts to video]
TIKTOK USER: Okay, listen. If you ban TikTok I will find you and shoot you. [Laughter] That's people's jobs. And that's my only entertainment. [Transition] Anyways, I will shoot you and find you and cut you into pieces. [Laughter] Bye!
SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): Does it actually help their case? It hurts their case. [Transition] Shame on TikTok for not discouraging it.
[Cuts back to live]
HASNIE: So, TikTok is responding to this tonight, posting on X: “Threats like this are unacceptable and we condemn this in the strongest possible terms.” Adding, that users who do want to speak out should do in a respectful manner.
Well, right now the Senate is moving cautiously on that House bill which requires the app divorce its Chinese owner ByteDance or face a ban. Today, senators got a classified briefing on TikTok and we could see soon CEO Shou Chew on the hill again as Chairwoman Maria Cantwell of the Commerce Committee says she wants a TikTok hearing, too. Her concern is whether the bill can hold up against lawsuits.
[Cuts to video]
SEN. MARIA CANTWELL (D-WA): The whole issue is constitutionality, making sure it upholds in court. We want our government to have a very strong tool to stop nefarious actions, so the question is how do we get that? The House has one proposal. We’re going to look at all of these.
[Cuts back to live]
HASNIE: But Bret, nobody, not even Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is giving anyone any clues about when we could finally see some action on the floor. Bret.
BAIER: Aishah Hasnie live on the hill. Aishah, thanks.
