[BREAKING] Deadline Accidentally Runs Pence COVID Story As He Cancels Friday Trip
Deadline was forced to issue an apology to Mike Pence on Thursday when it accidentally ran a story that the Vice President had tested positive for the coronavirus eight days after Donald Trump tested positive himself.
“A draft post of a story about Vice President Mike Pence testing positive for coronavirus that was never meant to publish was accidentally posted on Deadline,” they tweeted, followed by the apology. However, enough users were quick to screenshot the accidental headline.
Deadline Note To Readers
A draft post of a story about Vice President Mike Pence testing positive for coronavirus that was never meant to publish was accidentally posted on Deadline
Apologies to the Vice President and our readers
More: https://t.co/vq4f0mDN29
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) October 8, 2020
Pence appeared sluggish at Wednesday night’s Vice Presidential Debate from Salt Lake City, where the head of the Coronavirus Task Force had a visibly red eye to go along with his obvious pallor. #PinkeyePence quickly began trending on Twitter as many speculated that pinkeye just happens to be one of the early symptoms of COVID19.
The fact that Deadline had the story prepped and ready to go definitely raised suspicions about Pence’s health even higher as Twitter users responded to the retraction.
“Never meant to publish” does not mean “untrue.” What the hell is going on, people.
— Jessica Ellis (@baddestmamajama) October 8, 2020
Deadline's pre-write about Pence having coronavirus is still up though pic.twitter.com/DrSkUQFHOw
— jordan (@JordanUhl) October 8, 2020
I don’t know if the Deadline story is real, but 👁 wouldn’t be surprised if it were… pic.twitter.com/amtuol1cNo
— Mystery Solvent (@MysterySolvent) October 8, 2020
The White House had released a statement verifying Pence’s negative status before the debate, but the Deadline piece’s publication–originally dated Wednesday–should probably remain at the top of their Drafts now that Pence has “postponed” a planned appearance on Friday in Indianapolis.
Pence’s office claims the change in plans is due to a “scheduling issue”, but considering the amount of White House staff currently infected with the coronavirus, it would not be out of the realm of expectations that Pence may have tested positive upon returning to Washington after the Vice Presidential Debate.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.