The White House press briefing with the Ted Lasso cast descended into chaos on Monday before it even began when a disruptive reporter berated Karine Jean-Pierre for not taking questions from him.
Jason Sudeikis was set to discuss mental health with the co-stars from the award-winning show when Today News Africa correspondent Simon Ateba started shouting at President Biden’s press secretary.
‘You’re making a mockery of the First Amendment … It’s been seven months and you have not called on me,’ he said to the press secretary while the cast looked on in bemusement.
‘You’ve been discriminating against me and discrimination against some people in the briefing,’ he shouted while other members of the press and Sudeikis and other celebrities looked on.
‘This is not China, this is not Russia,’ he added as reporters then interjected and told him they were fed up with his conduct. Jean-Pierre has frequently admonished Ateba in the past, but this time journalists in the room demanded he quiet himself so that the day’s only event to interact with a senior White House official could begin.
‘You are impinging on everybody in here who’s only trying to do their job,’ reporter Brian Karem said and another correspondent said: ‘The rest of us are here too, pal’.
The White House press briefing with the Ted Lasso cast descended into chaos on Monday when a reporter berated Karine Jean-Pierre for not taking questions from him
Jason Sudeikis appeared to discuss mental health with the co-stars from the award-winning show when Today News Africa correspondent Simon Ateba (middle) started berating President Biden’s press secretary
Ateba’s outburst came before Jean-Pierre or the celebrities she arrayed behind her even had a chance to speak.
Jean-Pierre tried to talk over Ateba, who has interrupted her multiple times in the past, as he was shouting: ‘No. No. No. No. No. We’re not doing this. We’re not doing this,’ she intoned while raising her finger.
Turning to Sudeikis, she said joked, ‘Welcome to the press briefing room.’
‘Are we ready? Are we going to behave,’ Jean-Pierre said after allowing for a long pause.
After Ateba interrupted again, individual reporters urged him to stop. ‘Decorum, please,’ said NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, a longtime reporter and members of the White House Correspondents’ Association.
Ateba has received multiple complaints and the White House Correspondents Association have warned him about his behavior. The group regularly provides updates on ‘decorum’ in its outreach to members.
The White House who controls press credentials for the building.
Only after the tense confrontation was Sudeikis able to speak. He and the cast of ‘Ted Lasso’ were spotted going into the White House residence before the event. He made a brief pitch about mental health.
‘No matter who you are … we all know someone … that’s struggled that’s felt isolated that’s felt anxious that’s felt alone,’ he said.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby then came to the podium to discuss the meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, and Ateba tried to step in again.
Later in the briefing, an Associated Press White House Correspondent apologized on behalf of the press, telling Jean-Pierre: ‘This isn’t about us’.
Ateba spoke out loud again, but not yelling this time. ‘The American people wants you to be fair to everybody,’ he said.
Sudeikis, who plays Coach Ted Lasso, managed to get in a statement about mental health after the first interruption.
‘The big theme of the show is to check in with your neighbor, your coworker, your friends, your family, and ask how they are doing, and listen, sincerely,’ Sudeikis said.
‘You all ask questions for a living, but you all listen for a living. So who am I preaching to? The choir, that is.’
He added, ‘And while it is easier said that done, we also have to know that we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help ourselves.
Cast members Brett Goldstein, Hannah Waddingham, Brendan Hunt and Toheeb Jimoh were standing either side of the podium.
Jason Sudeikis, who plays Coach Lasso, managed to get in a statement about mental health
Sudeikis is flanked by fellow Ted Lasso cast members Brett Goldstein and Hannah Waddingham as he embraces Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
‘Check in with your neighbor, your coworker, your friends, your family and ask how they’re doing. And listen sincerely’, Sudeikis told the briefing room
Jean-Pierre admonished Ateba: ‘We’re not doing this. We’re not doing this’
The real life chaos came before actor James Lance, who plays journalist Trent Crimm on the ‘Ted Lasso’ show, asked the one and only question of Sudeikis
The tense confrontation came at what the White House set up to be a light-hearted moment, albeit on a serious topic. Jean-Pierre previously hosted members of the K-Pop band BTS, although the group announced it was taking a hiatus soon after their visit.
It even featured a moment with British actor James Lance, who plays journalist Trent Crimm on the show, standing among reporters to ask a question of Sudeikas.
The confrontation came days after Ateba appeared on Fox News opinion host Tucker Carlson’s show. The host called him ‘one of the best in the business.’
Ateba announced he would appear on the show again Monday night.