CNN Senior National Correspondent David Culver drew rebukes online for footage showing him donning a panda suit in the wake of the station’s mass layoffs – as other stations offered stories on Donald Trump and the hurricane in North Carolina.
Culver was reporting live in Washington to see the The Smithsonian National Zoo’s two new giant pandas, months after visiting them overseas.
The costumed footage comes from an overarching production Dubbed Operation Panda, airing Sunday, and on Friday, the station repeatedly aired footage filmed late last year in anticipation.
The clips show him standing alongside an also costumed colleague, in what appears the mountains of Southwest China. Bao Li and Qing Bao were both brought from the country this month, as part of a renewed deal between the US and China.
The two made their public debut Friday, with Culver reporting from the scene. This spawned criticism from some on social media, including a popular pundit who slammed the content as uninspired when compared to the rest of day’s news.
Others, meanwhile, brought up the some 200 firings that had occurred just hours before, and the ratings struggle that spurred it. All expressed disinterest in the giant panda-related content, as the network seeks to address waning TV viewership.
‘This is a real thing CNN is doing and airing. I wonder why they just had massive layoffs?’ wrote one person on X, sharing a still of Culver in costume. The user slammed the concept as dull.
Another added on Instagram. ‘Cool. Now back to the Trump trashing narrative that got him reelected’ – paving the way for a stinging jab from Frequent Fox News contributor Joe Concha who also slammed the struggling station for the segment.
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CNN Senior National Correspondent David Culver (left) drew rebukes online for donning a panda suit in the wake of the station’s massive layoffs
The costumed footage comes from an overarching production Dubbed Operation Panda, airing Sunday. It was filmed late last year. Culver is seen in costume alongside CNN’s Senior China Reporter Nectar Gan
‘Fox News covering Trump meeting with victims of Helene in Western North Carolina, complete with individual families taking to the mic to share their massive struggles and frustration,’ the pundit wrote. ‘CNN – Dana Bash talking giant pandas in DC.’
Hours earlier, CEO Mark Thompson took a major step in his long-in-the works restructuring plan that seeks to put emphasis on CNN’s digital future – a pronounced round of firings for the third time in as many years.
‘We’re going to see Bao Li and Qing Bao,’ Culver begins in a separate promotion also posted Friday, as the Smithsonian’s Panda Keeper, Mariel Lally, offered him a tour.
At a point, she brought the correspondent face to face with one of the friendly animals, leaving him with a Cheshire cat grin.
‘I don’t know what I was expecting to feel, but this is incredible,’ he said in footage set to air Sunday at 8pm.
‘He’s pretty amazing,’ added Lally of Bao Li, feeding him bamboo through his cage.
As he chomped away, Culver commented: ‘Oh my god, Mariel – he’s so sweet!’ before asking his guide ‘how amazing it [was] to have pandas back [at the zoo].’
She replied yes, leaving the journalist to again say: ‘Oh my gosh – he’s so sweet,’ after Bao Li and his slightly more reserved female counterpart were successfully brought to the US as part of a brand-new 10-year agreement with Chinese authorities.
A similar one ended in 2023, after three giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and son Xiao Qi Ji were sent back to the country after staying at the Smithsonian since 2000.
Culver, meanwhile, was reporting live in Washington to see the two new giant pandas, months after visiting them overseas. The bears were just brought to The Smithsonian National Zoo, and they are the subject of Culver’s soon-to-come segment. The
Ahead of their unveiling to the public Friday, the senior national correspondent got a private tour, presided over the Smithsonian’s resident Panda Keeper, Mariel Lally
At a point, she brought the correspondent face to face with one of the friendly animals, leaving him with a Cheshire cat grin. While not released in full, the footage only showed Culver gushing about the bear’s cuteness
Onlookers were quick to criticize the soft coverage, as other stories – like Donald Trump visiting North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene – seemed more important
The terms of the new deal are still somewhat unclear, leaving Culver to gush over the bear’s cuteness after donning a costume X users could not help but criticize.
‘This is freaking me out,’ wrote one, as another compared the likeness of the bear masks to ski masks, akin to the thieves form Home Alone.
‘CNN and the people who watch it are the worst,’ sniped someone else, the firings still fresh in many minds.
‘Returning to China for this story felt both deeply personal and profoundly unique’, said Culver in a separate statement, as b-roll for the new episode showed him in full panda garb
‘The exclusive access – from the meticulous planning for the giant pandas’ send-off to trekking into the wild to explore the landscapes they call home – revealed a side of this journey few ever see.
‘It’s a story that goes beyond borders, capturing the remarkable efforts, cultural ties, and raw beauty that these iconic animals inspire.
‘I’m excited for viewers to experience these rare, unforgettable moments firsthand.’
Former First Lady Jill Biden also visited the giant pandas as well last weekend, posting video of the encounter on Facebook and Instagram just hours before President-elect Donald Trump flew to D.C. to kick off his inauguration.
Former First Lady Jill Biden also visited the giant pandas in one of her final acts before leaving the White House weekend, posting video of the encounter on Facebook and Instagram just hours before President-elect Donald Trump flew to D.C. to kick off his inauguration
She was accompanied by Hunter Biden ‘s son Beau, who, like Culver, the toddler can be heard exclaiming how the ‘cute’ the critters were in the footage
Seen here, a still from livestream of the Smithsonian exhibit, made open to the public Friday
She was accompanied by Hunter Biden’s son Beau as well, who, like Culver, the toddler can be heard exclaiming how the ‘cute’ the critters were in the footage.
‘This is Bao Li, which means “energetic treasure,”‘ says the guide in the clip, posted to the official first lady Instagram page.
‘This is Qing Bao. It’s like “green mountainous treasure,’ she adds.
‘That’s cute right?’ asks the then-first lady.
‘Cute,’ answers the four-year-old.
The full title of the documentary featuring Culver is ‘The Whole Story: Operation Panda’. It will be narrated by Anderson Cooper.
