CNN under fire as videos show Anderson Cooper getting whacked by debris during Hurricane Milton coverage

BRADENTON, FLORIDA: CNN faces backlash after dramatic footage captures anchor Anderson Cooper being hit by an object while reporting on Hurricane Milton in Bradenton, Florida.

Like other networks, CNN dispatched its reporters to cover the storm despite heavy rain and strong winds, remaining undeterred by the challenging conditions.

Videos capture Anderson Cooper battling fierce winds while reporting on Hurricane Milton

Videos shared on social media show Cooper bracing against strong winds when he is suddenly hit by a piece of debris, prompting a visible reaction. Cooper was broadcasting live shortly after Hurricane Milton made landfall, just after 9 p.m. ET, Mediaite reports.

“The wind has really picked up,” he said. “The water’s really moving. You can get a sense of just how fast the wind is moving there. You can see it in the light there. It is now just whipping off the Manatee River. It’s coming from kind of the north, I guess northeast. And the water now is really starting to pour over."

"If you look at the graph... whoa!" he said as the object hit his head while reporting. The moment Cooper exclaimed "woah" was when he was struck in the chest and face by a square-shaped object.

“Ok, that wasn’t good,” he informed viewers. “We’ll probably go inside shortly. But you can see the amount of water here on the ground. This is water from the Manatee River. It’s also water coming from the land as well.”

Anderson Cooper is not the first journalist to be struck by debris during a storm report. Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel was hit by a tree branch while covering Hurricane Ian in 2022. Similarly, a reporter in Houston was struck by sheet metal while reporting on Hurricane Florence in 2018.

Internet lambasts CNN and Anderson Cooper

Videos of Cooper struggling against the strong winds during the coverage of Hurricane Milton quickly went viral on social media, prompting reactions from users. A user demanded, "Someone rescue Anderson Cooper from CNN. #HurricaneMilton."

Another added, "Why is CNN trying to kill all of its anchors during Hurricane Milton?"

A user wrote, "No news story is worth having people out there. It's disturbing."

"It is not necessary for him to be outside! What the heck," wrote a critic.

A user added, "I'm sorry but this is just stupid to put oneself in harms way, just redicules! We don't need someone to die or be dibilitated to give us a play by play. Geezus ppl be safe, be smart!"

One said, "I have no sympathy for these idiots. There is no reason for him to being reporting right there."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.