PBS Apologizes for Airing Old DC Fireworks Footage after Twitter Outrage

THE FIREWORKS HAVE BEGUN OVER WASHINGTON, DC!!!! #July4thPBS pic.twitter.com/dZQ4J3Af6o
— A Capitol Fourth (@July4thPBS) July 5, 2016

Those who watched PBS' "A Capitol Fourth" program on the Fourth of July showing the concert on the National Mall and the subsequent fireworks show noticed something strange.

Despite miserable wet weather and low-lying clouds throughout the evening, viewers were watching spectacular footage of fireworks over the National Mall on what appeared to be a perfectly clear evening.

As it turns out, PBS had decided to air old footage from previous Fourth of July celebrations during the fireworks show because of the low-lying clouds — it just neglected to tell its viewers they were doing that. And people were not happy.

Washington, D.C.-area residents flooded Twitter to rip PBS for the decision, prompting the Twitter account for "A Capitol Fourth" to first attempt to justify the decision by saying it was the "patriotic" thing to do, and then apologizing a few hours later.

"Because this year's fireworks were difficult to see due to the weather, we made the decision to intercut fireworks footage from previous A Capitol Fourth concerts for the best possible television viewing experience," the statement reads. "We apologize for any confusion this may have caused."

Twitter users criticized PBS for not letting viewers know with a "file video" graphic on the screen as is typically done when something is not live.

Many weren't impressed with the apology.

"There's no confusion," wrote user CasablancaCop. "PBS used stock footage and presented it as current. Lazy production and ultimately dishonest."

Others came to PBS' defense.

"I loved that you showed Fireworks that could be seen on TV!" said user patfo49. "People who complained are being ridiculous!"

Still others tried to turn it into a political issue.

"The problem is that your network is a left wing arm of the democrat party funded by all taxpayers," wrote EvoShandor16. "You're losing the info war."