Former CBS News journalist Brittney Hopper claimed Thursday that she was temporarily removed from the air after questioning the actions and guidance of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hopper, speaking on News24 in Australia, referenced Fauci's recent congressional hearing where he invoked his Fifth Amendment right over 100 times. Before commenting on the hearing, Hopper, an independent journalist who worked for CBS News Los Angeles until 2022, shared her personal experience reporting on Fauci during the pandemic.
"I have so much to say because this was during the time when I was on CBS News, I was reporting extensively on COVID," Hopper stated. "I was out there on the front lines. And I remember after a couple of years of dealing with hearing this man and interviewing this man, and having to wear masks and having our kids out of school for years, I remember questioning what he was doing. And I got in trouble and pulled off-air for a couple of days because I started questioning him."
She described a media environment where questioning the established narrative was discouraged. "You weren’t supposed to question the agenda and the narrative at that point," Hopper said. She added that she apologized and returned to her reporting duties. "I was their puppet on mainstream media for so many years. Hopefully, more and more people are waking up to, you know, really, the lack of journalistic integrity that we’re seeing."
Hopper expressed that she was not surprised by Fauci's Fifth Amendment stance during his hearing. She voiced hope that his refusal to answer questions might prompt a broader re-evaluation of his role and the information disseminated during the pandemic. "I hope that this is somewhat of a wake-up call for news organizations around the world," she remarked.
Reflecting on pandemic measures, Hopper cited examples like social distancing guidelines and outdoor mask mandates, suggesting that many questions remained unanswered. While acknowledging the uncertainty of the early stages of the pandemic, she questioned the subsequent adherence to certain protocols when more information became available, suggesting a lapse in journalistic integrity among news agencies fearful of contradicting Fauci.
CBS News, when reached for comment by Fox News Digital, clarified that Hopper had left the network prior to a future leadership change. The report also noted that Fauci has faced renewed scrutiny regarding his private diary entries, which some critics say contradict his public statements on issues like COVID-19 lockdowns.