Things at Huffington Post Arabi are a bit different than at their Western offshoots. Like everyone else, the official Twitter page for the Huffington Post‘s Arabic edition announced the death of music legend George Michael—but it also added, in the headline no less, that he had “homosexual tendencies.”
Unlike other HuffPo editions, which paid due respect to the artist and celebrated his achievements, the Arabic edition ran the story with the following headline: “Musician George Michael dead at 53. Addicted to drugs with homosexual tendencies.”
The article went further into Michael’s sexual “tendencies” and mentioned his previous struggles with drugs, recounting instances he was seen under the influence of drugs. The piece also pointed out Michael’s opposition to the war in Iraq in 2003. Only in the last paragraph did it finally mention Michael’s success as a musician.
It’s unclear why the site decided to focus on the artist’s sexuality, drug problems and politics—particularly after the singer’s longtime manager Michael Lippman told the media that the cause of death was believed to be heart failure.
The headline has sparked criticism from others, who saw it as lacking decency. One Twitter user wrote: “You’re disgusting!” Another user suggested the main Huffington Post office could teach the Arabic edition “some damn common decency.”
Headline translation: 'Musician George Michael dead at 53. Addicted to drugs with homosexual tendencies'
What is Huffington Post even doing https://t.co/qyNJba6XOS— Lur (@lur_ag) December 26, 2016
Hey @HuffingtonPost
Tell us you're going to do something about this https://t.co/INxWzsmvPX— Eman Hashim (@EmanHashim) December 26, 2016
Hey @HuffingtonPost, teach your staff at @HuffPostArabi some damn common decency. https://t.co/iTmMIpmDft
— Samir Nassar (@samirnassar) December 26, 2016
Let Twitter translate this. Yep, wonderful liberal @HuffingtonPost. That's what happens when you go into business with Muslim Brotherhood. https://t.co/NUwuXzuxzH
— Tamer Y. Abouzeid (@tyabouzeid) December 26, 2016
It is important to report your account as a
racism web and against humanity. Your tweet about #GeorgeMichael was really shame. Bloody hell! https://t.co/7RpvOZbvFk— A. B. Kitan (@abdelkiten) December 26, 2016
You're disgusting! https://t.co/WlCW7xXK8d
— Mazen Jean✨ (@mazenbjs) December 26, 2016
Cc: @HuffingtonPost – This isn't the 1st time. Please review the professionalism & the neutrality of the Arabic website. https://t.co/SlNb5iLo9F
— Ahmed Yousif (@AhmedYNZ) December 26, 2016
@HuffPostUK Do you know how pathetic are you Arabic version editors manipulating news to fit their pro islamophanatic sick minds? https://t.co/vqn7TjdkJu
— Jamil Nabbal (@__Nabbal__) December 26, 2016
