At the top of Thursday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez declared: “...former Miss California, Carrie Prejean, almost walks off Larry King Live, saying his questions were inappropriate.” The headline on screen read: “Prejean Pouts.”
Co-host Russ Mitchell later reported in a news brief: “Prejean nearly walked out on CNN interviewer Larry King last night. Prejean had answered questions about a sex tape she made as a teenager....She then refused several times to discuss a settlement she reached with the Miss USA Pageant, but King persisted.” Mitchell failed to provide the context that Prejean had already completed a 30-minute interview with King and was strangly brought back for the final few minutes of the show.
Later in his report, Mitchell explained: “King tried to go to a caller from Detroit, but Prejean removed her mic and prepared to leave. She then changed her mind and completed the interview. She never did answer Mr. King’s question.” Co-host Harry Smith later noted: “And the fact is – is the reason she was pulling her mic is because she said ahead of time she wasn’t going to take questions from callers.”
After Mitchell’s report, Rodriguez recalled an interview she did with Prejean: “I remember when she was here and I interviewed her, she was very uncomfortable with tough questions and so was her mom who came with her. I’m surprised – it can’t be easy, but I’m surprised she’s not used to it by now.”
Co-host Harry Smith joked: “Larry King, as we all know, I mean, is the tough interviewer.” Mitchell added: “He does not give up.” While making fun of King’s normally softball interview style, Smith and Mitchell failed to describe the unusually tough and unfair treatment he showed Prejean.
Here is a full transcript of the segment:
7:00AM TEASE:
MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: And former Miss California, Carrie Prejean, almost walks off Larry King Live, saying his questions were inappropriate. We’ll hear what else she said.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Prejean Pouts]
7:12AM SEGMENT:
RUSS MITCHELL: Former Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean, nearly walked out on CNN interviewer Larry King last night. Prejean had answered questions about a sex tape she made as a teenager. Something she has called the biggest mistake of her life. She then refused several times to discuss a settlement she reached with the Miss USA Pageant, but King persisted.
CARRIE PREJEAN: Larry, it’s completely confidential and you’re being inappropriate. Okay?
LARRY KING: Okay, alright.
PREJEAN: You’re being inappropriate.
KING: ‘Inappropriate King Live’ continues.
PREJEAN: Yes.
MITCHELL: And King tried to go to a caller from Detroit, but Prejean removed her mic and prepared to leave. She then changed her mind and completed the interview. She never did answer Mr. King’s question.
MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: I remember when she was here and I interviewed her, she was very uncomfortable with tough questions and so was her mom who came with her. I’m surprised – it can’t be easy, but I’m surprised she’s not used to it by now.
HARRY SMITH [JOKING]: Larry King, as we all know, I mean, is the tough interviewer.
[LAUGHTER]
MITCHELL: He does not give up. (In Larry King voice) Detroit, you’re on the air.
RODRIGUEZ: He is know for-
MITCHELL: He doesn’t stop.
SMITH: And the fact is – is the reason she was pulling her mic is because she said ahead of time she wasn’t going to take questions from callers. So that’s – in fact, if we actually want to know what happened, we’ll read about it this morning.
