Over the weekend, NewsBusters was the first to report how NBC’s Sunday Today had deceitfully edited the viral video of restaurant owner Angela Marsden to cut out her showing how Los Angeles had allowed a film shoot to set up outdoor catering tents while they shut down her outdoor dining setting. And in an appearance on Fox News Channel’s America’s Newsroom Tuesday, Marsden was shocked to learn what NBC did (especially since the tents were for and NBC production and they took a shot at her).
After reporting “there’s word one TV network, quote, ‘deceitfully’ edited that video” and showing Marsden NBC’s handiwork, interim anchor Trace Gallagher explained to her the situation:
What they failed to say is the tents next to your restaurant was an NBC show, Good [Girls]. And they also went, at the end of the story, kind of taking a shot at you for putting business ahead of lives. What is your comment about that?
“What,” Marsden exclaimed in total shock. “You know, honestly, I didn't see that and I want to steer the answer away from even dealing with that because the reality is right in front of our face.”
While she didn’t go after NBC directly, she lamented how they were “trying to stop the word of getting out that people are hurting and that our rents aren't going to get paid.” She reminded viewers that “this is about people, it’s not about politics.” And she was confused by NBC. “And I don't really understand, you know, what or why anybody would want to make it smaller than what it is.”
Pulling out her phone, Marsden proceeded to read a touching message she had received from an unemployed bartender who was moved by her emotional plea in the viral video:
I got an email, this is just one of millions. Garrett Jordan in New Orleans. “Thank you so much. Hearing you talk is a prayer answered. 36-year-old unemployed bartender in New Orleans. You have given us a voice. When you talked about your employees, the hardship it really hurt me to hear anyone -- nobody speaking up for us, not even most owners. Always against us and not being able to pay rent is really, really hard. Just thank you. I haven't cried since my grandfather's funeral. Hearing your voice stick up for us almost made me do it.”
“They could erase the tents, the footage is out there, the truth is the truth,” she declared. “I have a manager who just ran out of unemployment. She’s crying. She doesn't even know if there will be an extension. I have another one, a bartender couch surfing because she ran out a while ago.”
As Marsden continued to speak, it seemed as though she was speaking directly to NBC. “And anybody that wants to change that story can try all they want but there is more of us than them. And all you have to do is go out and get to go and talk to your local pub owner, or bar owner, or hairstylist who’s crying because she is losing her salon,” she said.
The frustration was undeniable as she wrapped up her first answer, proclaiming: “They can do whatever they want, but it only makes them look like they don't care about people that are hurting right now. You know, so that's on them.”
As for the politicians behind the draconian lockdown measures, Marsden had a message for them too: they’re going to be voted out because they’re not for people.
“And I have plenty of Democrat friends that have reached out to me and said that they want [Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom] out. That they cannot believe what they are doing,” she told Gallagher. “[Los Angeles Supervisor] Sheila Kuehl, who voted against us. I voted for her. I live in her neighborhood. I’ve tried to get through to her and I left her a message. It’s gross what you’re doing. I will never vote for you again.”
In a subsequent report for Monday’s Today, NBC’s Miguel Almaguer noted that Marsden’s video showed the dining tent hypocrisy. But they still refused to admit that the catering was for an NBC production.
The transcript is below, click "ex[and" to read:
Fox News Channel’s America’s Newsroom
December 8, 2020
9:41:52 a.m. Eastern(…)
TRACE GALLAGHER: That's the owner of Pineapple Hill Bar and Grill in California blasting inconsistent coronavirus lockdowns in an emotional plea that has since gone viral. And now there’s word one TV network, quote, “deceitfully” edited that video. Angela Marsden join us now. We're talking about NBC, Angela. I want to play this for you and then I'll get your response on the other side. Watch this.
ANGELA MARSDEN (NBC’s edited video): Everything I own is being taken away from me. [Transition] And people wonder why I'm protesting and why I have had enough. [Transition] My staff cannot survive.
GALLAGHER: What they failed to say is the tents next to your restaurant was an NBC show, Good [Girls]. And they also went, at the end of the story, kind of taking a shot at you for putting business ahead of lives. What is your comment about that?
MARSDEN: What?! You know, honestly, I didn't see that and I want to steer the answer away from even dealing with that because the reality is right in front of our face. You can talk to your neighbor, you can talk to your brother.
You know what? I want to do this because I don't understand why people are trying to stop the word of getting out that people are hurting and that our rents aren't going to get paid. This is about people, it’s not about politics. And I don't really understand, you know, what or why anybody would want to make it smaller than what it is.
I got an email, this is just one of millions. Garrett Jordan in New Orleans. “Thank you so much. Hearing you talk is a prayer answered. 36-year-old unemployed bartender in New Orleans. You have given us a voice. When you talked about your employees, the hardship it really hurt me to hear anyone -- nobody speaking up for us, not even most owners. Always against us and not being able to pay rent is really, really hard. Just thank you. I haven't cried since my grandfather's funeral. Hearing your voice stick up for us almost made me do it.”
And I paraphrased a little bit because it’s hard to read right now. I don't care -- they could erase the tents, the footage is out there, the truth is the truth. I have a manager who just ran out of unemployment. She’s crying. She doesn't even know if there will be an extension. I have another one, a bartender couch surfing cause she ran out a while ago.
This is about my employees, it’s about every bartender, every server out there. And anybody that wants to change that story can try all they want but there is more of us than them. And all you have to do is go out and get to go and talk to your local pub owner, or bar owner, or hairstylist who’s crying because she is losing her salon.
They can do whatever they want but it only makes them look like they don't care about people that are hurting right now. You know, so that's on them.
GALLAGHER: You say it is not about politics but it is about politics. I want to play this for you because this is Governor Gavin Newsom. Brett Giroir came on this show, from the Coronavirus Task Force and said there is no science that says you cannot have outdoor dining. And the Governor has been saying for months he’s only following the science. He was asked specifically about that yesterday, and he refused to answer the question. Here’s what he said.
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): I'm a small business owner. [Transition] Put pen to paper, opened a small business with one part-time employee. It was the cause of my life. I deeply recognize people's pain and suffering.
GALLAGHER: Deeply recognized their pain and suffering. Would not answer the question about science. So, what he’s saying is, “Look, I know I'm a small business owner. I feel your pain but that's as far as it goes.” Your thoughts.
MARSDEN: You know, I'm going to answer when I say it's not about politics I'll tell you why. It's about people. Because if it was a Republican that was in office doing this very same thing I would be experiencing and feeling and saying the same thing. It happens to be a Democrat. And I have plenty of Democrat friends that have reached out to me and said that they want him out. That they cannot believe what they are doing. I’m not going to put people's names on air, you know. I had a person say to me –
Sheila Kuehl, who voted against us. I voted for her. I live in her neighborhood. I’ve tried to get through to her and I left her a message. It’s gross what you’re doing. I will never vote for you again.
So, for them maybe it's about politics, because hopefully they will no longer have their job. But for the people, we -- what we care about is people putting us first and looking out for us first. So, if you’re a Republican and you’re looking out for people you’re going to get voted in. If you’re a Democrat and looking out for people you’re going to get voted in.
The politicians want to make it a baseball game and we are stuck in the middle. And that is not what the political system was built for. It was supposed to have different free-thinking, free ideas, and compromises. And so, you know, for me and for the rest of America, it is not about politics and we want our politicians to get up and start compromising and get this – the package. What's going on with the stimulus package?
GALLAGHER: Yeah these are all very good points.
