CBS News slammed for confusing John Lewis with Elijah Cummings: 'You would never mix up two old white guys'

The network apologized after multiple social media users slammed the network for being "racist"

PUBLISHED JAN 1, 2020

John Lewis, Elijah Cummings. (Getty Images)

The CBS Evening News, on Monday, issued an apology after it confused Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) with the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) on air. The incident occurred on Monday when the channel was showing a segment linked to Lewis' recent announcement of his Stage IV pancreatic cancer. The channel, however, mistook a picture of Cummings for Lewis' and used it in their story.

Shortly after the mistake, multiple social media users slammed the network for being racist, saying that the error was "unacceptable" and that the outlet would not have made the mistake if it were "two old white guys" instead of Lewis and Cummings.

“Unnacceptable [sic] & racist! CBS once again proves they’re #FakeNews," one Twitter user wrote. While another user said: "First you do this to @RepCummings and now to @repjohnlewis ? You must do better. Unacceptable. Let’s face it. You would never mix up two old white guys."

Civil Rights icon Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) prepares to pay his respects to U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) who lies in state within Statuary Hall during a memorial ceremony on Capitol Hill on October 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

CBS Evening News promptly issued an apology on the popular micro-blogging site, writing: "Tonight on the 6:30 p.m. ET broadcast of the CBS Evening News, one photograph was misidentified as Congressman John Lewis. We have replaced the photo in all broadcasts and platforms. We deeply regret the error."

Veteran and inspirational speaker Stephon Ferguson also slammed the outlet on Monday as he shared the mislabeled picture from the network. Ferguson wrote: "Can’t believe CBS News is showing a picture of the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings w/ Congressman John Lewis’ name as they talk about Rep. Lewis’ recent announcement. Get it right! @CBSNews."

Rep. Cummings passed away on October 17 due to "complications concerning longstanding health challenges." The late lawmaker became the first black American lawmaker to lie in state inside National Statuary Hall on Capitol Hill. President Donald Trump, who had slammed Cummings just weeks before his death, ordered the flag to be flown at half-staff in his honor.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) prepares for a hearing on drug pricing in the Rayburn House Office building on Capitol Hill July 26, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Rep. Lewis made the shock announcement of his cancer diagnosis on Monday, saying he will begin cancer treatments soon, adding that he had “never faced a fight quite like the one I have now.”

"I have decided to do what I know to do and do what I have always done: I am going to fight it and keep fighting for the Beloved Community. We still have many bridges to cross," the lawmaker said.