Texas TV reporter under fire for gorilla in the room remark during Karmelo Anthony trial coverage

A veteran Texas TV reporter is facing backlash after using the phrase “gorilla in the room” while covering the closely watched murder trial of Karmelo Anthony — prompting her station’s parent company to issue a public apology and acknowledge the remark was inappropriate.Rebecca Lopez, a senior crime and justice reporter for Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA, made the comment Tuesday during live coverage of Anthony’s trial while discussing tensions surrounding the case.“Let’s talk a little bit about the big, uh, gorilla so to speak,” she said before noting that people on both sides of the case had been shouting racial slurs and that attorneys wanted the proceedings to focus on the facts rather than race.The incident was first reported by Atlanta Black Star.Anthony, 19, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the 2025 murder of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf.Because Anthony was a minor at the time of the killing, he was not eligible for the death penalty.Lopez’s comment immediately ignited criticism online, with some viewers questioning whether Lopez misspoke or intentionally substituted the phrase “gorilla in the room” for the more commonly used expression “elephant in the room.”A video of the moment spread on social media, where critics argued the wording was problematic and offensive because the defendant in the case is black.The comment was made at the 8:11 mark of the video belowOne user who reposted the clip wrote that while reporters are entitled to provide analysis during trial coverage, the choice of words raised questions about “judgment, professionalism, and awareness.”Others were less forgiving.“She is a seasoned reporter.

She should know better,” one commenter wrote on Instagram.Another accused the station of lacking professionalism, while others urged WFAA to explain the remark.In a statement provided by Tegna, WFAA’s parent company, the broadcaster acknowledged the comment was inappropriate and sought to distance the newsroom fr...