An American journalist has received heavy scrutiny online after he tweeted a photo of a pair of ear-plugs and asked if they were rubber bullets.
Ryan Reilly is the Justice Reporter for The Huffington Post and is currently reporting from the scene of the Ferguson protests in Missouri.
He tweeted a picture of cheap foam ear-plugs laying on the ground with the caption, 'I believe these are rubber bullets can anyone confirm? #Ferguson'.
I believe these are rubber bullets, can anyone confirm? #Fergurson pic.twitter.com/iCsFi6qoIa
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 17, 2014
Twitter quickly reacted and criticised the reporter for his lack of knowledge or understanding of the environment and event he was reporting on.
.@ryanjreilly Knowing difference between earplugs and rubber bullets is something you should know. Not something you crowdsource.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) August 17, 2014
I believe this is a taser. Can @ryanjreilly confirm? pic.twitter.com/1e7jObLG1H
— Matt (@mdrache) August 17, 2014
@ryanjreilly lmfao this is hilarious. You people are nothing but clueless urbanites.
— Trent Flubbs (@TrentFlubbs) August 17, 2014
Reilly has since issued a retraction and apologised for the mistake which people are labelling as 'disgraceful', but the criticism is yet to stop online.
What's that? I can't hear you. "@ryanjreilly: I retract that suggestion, they are earplugs. Apologies.” pic.twitter.com/wFtNOElArz
— schlute, M.D. (@coolhandschlute) August 17, 2014
I believe these are hand grenades. Can @ryanjreilly or anybody else confirm? pic.twitter.com/A2H6MSis2r
— Jay Caruso (@JayCaruso) August 17, 2014
