Star Tribune's 'C.J.' Takes Aim at KARE 11 Anchor, Later Apologizes

On Wednesday evening, Star Tribune's gossip columnist, who only goes by "C.J.," wrote an article that criticized an outfit choice by KARE 11 television anchor Jana Shortal. Shortal was reporting on developments in the Jacob Wetterling case a day earlier.

On Twitter I asked Shortal if she wished she’d worn different pants: 'IDK what my clothing has to do with covering the tragedy of Jacob’s death. My only ‘wish’ on Tuesday was for Jacob’s family.'

My thoughts are also with the Wetterling family. While I cannot imagine they’ll want to read or watch every media take about the horror they have been living, I would think that hipness wouldn’t be a priority while covering one of the biggest, saddest stories in Minnesota history."

Edginess is the mandate of 'Breaking the News,' but there is a line. Shortal has her defenders who are having their say on Twitter. To refresh memories, I have written flattering items about Shortal. Recent correspondents who have not been kind to Shortal have not found a compadre in me.

Here is the outfit and segment in question:

C.J.'s piece drew national attention, and sparked outrage among readers, many of whom sent angry tweets and comments to the Star Tribune's social media pages.

C.J. remained defiant.

Hours later, the column had been taken down, and the Star Tribune issued the following apology:

Shortal, who has been criticized in the past for her non-traditional outfits, wrote a heartfelt response to C.J. on her Facebook page:

On Tuesday morning I got dressed. The light on my porch woke me up. Jacob's light, his sign, to come home. Sick to my stomach I got dressed. Dreading the day I got dressed. Knowing I would learn, with all of you, what really happened to Jacob Wetterling. I dressed. I prayed. I went to work. I kept my head down. I learned what happened to him. I prayed again. I went on the air. I did my best. I gave that newscast every single shred of hope and love I had for Jacob. For his family. And for every single one of you who was hurting. I left everything I had on that newsroom floor.

And today.
You took that away.
You made it about my pants.
You. You, whose name I will never write again.
You. You with the column I will not link to.
You. The bully with the keyboard who took this night, this story, and made into gossip about my pants.
Shame on you.
You suggest this: "I would think that hipness wouldn't be a priority while covering one of the biggest, saddest stories in Minnesota history."
You are at least correct on that.
It wasn't.
I wore my clothes. The clothes it took me a very long time to feel comfortable in no thanks to the bullies like you who tried to shame me out of them.
But have you no dignity, person with the name I won't write?
You wrote about clothes in the darkest moment of Minnesota news history.

You wrote about jeans.

You were asked to create joy.
Help your neighbor.

You wrote about jeans.

You took the life out of what was meant to be a tribute to a life lost.

I won't let you do that to me.
I'm going to create joy.
I'm going to help my neighbor.

I'm going to go turn my porch light on now.

And remember why I did that show the way I did it.

And I promise you, what I won't remember, was the cut of my jeans.

Many Star Tribune readers made it known they weren't happy with an apology unless it came from C.J. Others called for her to be fired by the newspaper.

On Thursday, just before 5:30 p.m., the Star Tribune published a short article by the gossip columnist titled "C.J. apologizes":

"A column I wrote and that was briefly published Wednesday has created a lot of anger and confusion among some readers. I want you to know that I’m sorry it hurt Jana Shortal and I have told her so. At the time, in my own sadness about the horribly tragic Jacob Wetterling news, I was trying to urge maximum respect for the family and that led me to comment on someone’s attire. In hindsight, that was a mistake and I understand the perspective of those upset by it."

The Star Tribune has not made any announcement regarding the columnist's employment.
Shortal has told fans and supporters that rather than criticize C.J., they should instead donate to the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center.

Image via YouTube