Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Daily News Apologizes for Racy 'Parade' Photos in Weekend Editorial

By Gustavo Solis | June 22, 2015 4:30pm
 The New York Daily News published a racy photo of two people who were not connected to the annual parade. Organizers say it was an "overt misrepresentation" of their event.
Puerto Rican Day parade Controversy
View Full Caption

EAST HARLEM — Organizers of the Puerto Rican Day Parade accepted a Daily News mea culpa for depicting their culture with a photo of two half-naked women, but others in the community aren't satisfied with the tabloid's excuse.

In a Saturday editorial, the tabloid called running the photo a “misstep” and blamed the photo on “misleading information provided to our editors by a wire photo service.”

The photo showing two South American women, who were not at the parade, with the words "Pto. Rico" and "Boricua" painted on their rear ends ran June 15. The Daily News photo editors apparently did not recognize the Times Square landmarks in the background of the image.

“As a result, we negatively mischaracterized what the Puerto Rican community represents,” according to the editorial. “Its nearly 1 million members have been, and will continue to be, one of the cornerstones on New York and an irreplaceable thread in its unique fabric.”

On Thursday, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade terminated a 25-year partnership with the paper after they failed to apologize for the photograph earlier in the week.

The group hosted protests outside the Daily News offices Tuesday and Wednesday, with some calling for a boycott of the newspaper. Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez called the photos “offensive.”

“It is a strong an honest step to rectify a mistake, recognize the community’s reaction, and respond in a kind, fair and appropriate manner,” read a statement posted on NPRDP’s website. “The Daily News’ editorial is proof that the community has been heard, and a reminder of the need for accurate, serious and responsible news reporting.”

Parade organizers originally demanded a front-page apology from the tabloid. Instead the tabloid's statement was printed in the "Opinion" section and ran Saturday, which is traditionally the lowest circulation day of the week.

Others in the Puerto Rican community were not so fast to give the tabloid a pass for their faux pas.

"People aren't buying it. It's not a real apology. They are just giving us just a little something, like a band aid approach. This was a complete insult to the Puerto Rican community," El Barrio activist Clark Peña said.

The people are upset, they feel that the Puerto Rican community once again has been taken for granted. It’s not the first time something like this has happened."

In 2012, the paper ran an image of the Cuban flag in an ad for the Puerto Rican Day Parade prompting Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz to boycott the Daily News float.

It’s unclear if parade organizers will restore their partnership with the paper. A spokesman did not reply to questions about the editorial.