CNN Forced to Issue Correction after Pushing False Fundraising Story
Far-left 'news' network helped raise $230k for 'mother of three' over eviction claim
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CNN has been forced to issue a major correction after peddling a fabricated news story about a "mother of three" who was facing eviction.
The far-left "news" network helped raise more than $230,000 after airing a story about Dasha Kelly, who CNN painted as a single mom with three children who had lost her job and would be evicted from her Las Vegas, Nevada, home.
Kelly's story captivated CNN's audience when she recounted how she faced being homeless after the federal eviction moratorium ended.
Throughout CNN's tear-jerking segment, three young children huddled closely with Kelly on her couch.
CNN publicized a GoFundMe campaign for Kelly and it quickly raked in more than $230k in donations.
In the description of the account, Kelly claimed she was the mother of the three children.
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Following the success of the first report, failing CNN ran another segment with Kelly's story in order to celebrate the announcement of a second eviction moratorium despite the Supreme Court ruling that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had no constitutional authority to do so.
Kelly's story went viral and was picked up by other liberal outlets, like NowThis, who celebrated the outpouring of support from the community.
In his segment, CNN reporter Nick Watt referred to the three children with Kelly as "her little girls" and noted they could all end up on the street as CNN’s on-screen chyron said, "Mom braces for eviction."
Watt explained that Kelly lost her job because of the coronavirus pandemic and can no longer afford child care, and her "little girls" were shown during CNN’s segment.
"Dasha Kelly has started a GoFundMe page to try and cover that rent, $2,000," Watt told CNN viewers who were quick to donate.
"It’s a Hail Mary, she says she’s praying for a miracle, hoping for a miracle.".
The CNN-promoted GoFundMe, which was also shared on CNN social media accounts, ended up raising over $230,000.
CNN then brought back Kelly and the three small children for an emotional follow-up interview alongside Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), after the Biden administration announced a new ban on landlords evicting tenants during the pandemic.
When I say your Congresswoman loves you, this is what I mean.
— Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) August 5, 2021
Kelly, I may not be your representative, but I love you and I will not stop working to make sure you and every person in our country has what they need to thrive. pic.twitter.com/qoDjn0xGnk
"This is the least that we can do for you is to step up and make sure that you get to stay in the safety and comfort of your home, while we work on other things, to help make sure that your life and the lives of your children are better," Bush said.
CNN is now reporting that Kelly is actually the babysitter of children, however, and they will return to live with their actual mother before school starts.
The network released the following correction to the story: "After CNN aired a story about her potential eviction, Dasha Kelly clarified to CNN that she is not the mother of the three children featured in the story.
"CNN has verified she takes care of the children in her home for periods of time."
"She says she originally described herself to CNN as a mother because she considers herself to be like one to them," CNN adds.
CNN’s online version of the story was initially headlined: "More than $170,000 raised in 24 hours for mother and three kids facing eviction."
However, it has now changed to: "More than $170,000 raised in 24 hours for Las Vegas woman facing eviction."
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GoFundMe told CNN it has put the funds on hold and nothing has been withdrawn.
"My name is Kelly and I have 3 daughters living in Nevada," Kelly wrote in the description of the GoFundMe.
"We were maintaining just fine before this pandemic hit.
"Now we are suffering.
"We do have EBT for food, and also applied for Chap. However, they do not assist immediately.
"We owe $1,900 for rent alone not including utilities.
"I will figure out utilities by pawning a few things.
"As you all know it is entirely still to hot to be homeless.
"My daughter's [sic] are aged 5, 6, and 8.
"Please help with anything you can."
Shadia Hilo, the actual mother of the children, contacted the network and proved with birth certificates that she is, indeed, their mother.
Hilo said she was very upset that someone else was pretending to be the mother of her children.
GoFundMe said they have frozen the funds in the account for Kelly and have contacted the donors to notify them about how to receive a refund.
If there is money left over from refunding donors, that will partially go to Kelly and partially to the children.
