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A journalist tried to narc on some looters during Harvey—and Twitter did not appreciate it

Don’t ever do a take this bad.

Photo of David Covucci

David Covucci

Tom Llamas with tweet that reads 'We informed police of the looting and Coast Guard is flying overhead. Multiple officers now on the scene.'

Hurricane Harvey made landfall four days ago, but the bad tweets are just starting to really roll in. While there have been some tremendously terrible takes on the cataclysmic storm—who has takes on a storm to even begin with?—it would be hard to top the actions today of ABC chief national correspondent Tom Llamas.

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Here was his (since deleted) tweet, as well as the preceding one.

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tom llamas looting tweet
Screengrab via Tom Llamas/Twitter

People did not like what they perceived as a reporter narcing on people stealing food in the middle of the worst national disaster the nation has seen in at least a decade.

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https://twitter.com/_chloi/status/902588469402144768

https://twitter.com/dickbutt_247/status/902597888873607168

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https://twitter.com/hvnlydaze/status/902598076254355456

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Some thought he was even hampering relief efforts by directing police to petty larceny while others were possibly in need of rescuing.

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People also noted that any food left in a grocery store would likely have spoiled—or been unsellable by the time any store reopened—and would be much better served feeding people instead of going to waste.

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There was also another weird moment where another journalist was… proud of him for doing it?

https://twitter.com/twitersgoodboy/status/902579678141087744

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Because, in the end, this is sort of what Llamas’ tweet was the equivalent of.

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Llamas attempt to clear it up by … not helping?

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There was truly only one piece of correct advice.

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https://twitter.com/dubsteppenwolf/status/902602449839644672

Well, maybe don’t.

 
The Daily Dot