CNN news correspondent Anderson Cooper could barely contain his emotions during his opening on Anderson Cooper 360 Monday. Reporting on the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Anderson began by reading each of the victims’ names while trying to keep his tears at bay. In addition to reading the names, photos were shown as Anderson mentioned personal stories provided by family and friends. The video is posted below and although beautiful, it is difficult to watch.
An emotional Anderson Cooper read the names of victims killed in the largest mass shooting in America on his CNN show Monday, all the while trying not to cry.
His moving tribute pulled even harder at the heartstrings for many who are already emotionally overwhelmed after a gunman opened fire on a packed gay nightclub in Orlando early Sunday morning, killing 49 people and injuring dozens more.
“They are more than a list of names. They are people who loved and who were loved,” Cooper said at the top of Anderson Cooper 360.
Cooper, the openly gay son of renowned socialite Gloria Vanderbilt, struggled to read the names of the victims, along with a short description of each person’s personalty as told by family and friends, for the more-than-seven-minute segment.
Pictures of the victims were also shown.
Cooper made it a point to tell his audience he would not mention the name of the gunman, nor would a picture of the 29-year-old killed by police in a shootout at the club after the massacre be shown during his program.
Anderson’s last line in his introduction was, “We think it’s important you hear their names.” I do too and join with those who have commended his emotional eulogy.
The outpouring of support from the rest of the world has been touching. Below are a few examples but you can see some more photos here and here. Walt Disney World announced it was donating $1 million to the OneOrlando Fund, established by Mayor Buddy Dyer, and is providing complimentary accommodations for family and friends of the victims. Thank you to commenter Lindsey for this link about the comfort dogs that have arrived in Orlando. If you would like to do something, there is a Pulse Victims Fund page by Equality Florida who is working with the National Center for Victims of Crime. Also, donating blood helps everyone, always. Or maybe just be nice to someone: wave or smile and say hello to a passer-by, compliment a co-worker, hug your child or call somebody who touched your life. In all of the victims’ stories Anderson mentioned, the common theme was joy of life or random acts of kindness; let’s carry on that message in their memory.
Photo credit: WENN and Fame/Flynet Photos and Getty Images
I read every name out loud and really lost it.
The only positive out of the entire horrendous event is that we show how good the human heart is when we come together. I finished getting ready for work this AM and messed up my makeup because this article brought tears to my eyes.
I pray for the victims and their families. May the Lord give them comfort in their greatest time of despair.
Whenever something horrible like this happens, which is way, way too often, I always try to focus on the good in people comes out. It’s hard, but sometimes the only way to get through it.
BTW, did anyone else see Anderson really press the Florida Attorney General Bondi, who has spent countless resources fighting against marriage equality?
Yes! I was just going to post about that. Good for him for calling her out.
For years, some of these politicians have resorting to fear mongering about gay rights and all of a sudden, they want to pretend they are a ally.
Yeah. One of our liberal radio hosts has been furious watching Attorney General Pam Bondi all over the media and our governor.
I loved it when Anderson pointed out her twitter was filled with dog stuff, dog events, but not one mention of Gay Pride Week, which is huge in Orlando. She tried to counter with she now had it up on her website, but admitted she had only put it on there after this tragedy. How convenient
I did and loved it when he brought up the hypocrisy Orlando natives felt in hearing claim alliance with the very people whose rights she fought so vehemently to oppose–he even touched on how she continued to fight after the court ruling.
That video choked me up.
I’m glad he covered the victims and not the shooter, someone had too, they deserve that much.
I was going to say the same thing. He really went IN with facts and was not taking her run around crap
Yes, Lucy! I was just getting ready to post about that. Watching her tie herself in a knot trying to explain herself was a sight to behold.
Jayna, I saw that, and then saw that people looked for it on her website – nothing. It’s an empty gesture anyway, but it didn’t even get put on there like she claimed.
He really pushed her to see the hypocrisy, especially in regards to how, if she had her way and there was no marriage equality, many of the victims loved ones wouldn’t even be able to visit them in the hospital.
Oh that’s great, Lucy. I love Cooper and I’m happy he stuck it to her.
Anybody know if there’s a link to the interview?
As Mr. Rogers always taught: when something bad happens look for the people who rush to help
As for that AG, she deserves what she is getting. May she lose her job
@Kitten
http://www.towleroad.com/2016/06/anderson-cooper-pam-bondi/
Her response that she ” was merely defending the state constitution” is shameful.
Thank you, CariBean!
My heart aches for the victims and their loved ones.
These pictures..the Eiffel tower and just reading the names..impossible to not be moved to tears.
So many names. When will Americans demand change?
We’ll demand change for about 5 seconds and then we’ll get distracted by a new episode of Game of Thrones.
Hate to sound cynical, but nothing will change. Mass shootings are now a way of life in America and we all better get use to it.
After Sandy Hook the majority of Americans were in favor of change, the problem is the NRA aka the gun manufactures’ army AND the millions of dollars they donate to politicians.
If we really want change, donation rules need to be changed and these fat cats who answer to big business need the boot, ASAP.
or you know stop voting for politicians paid for by the NRA
But once we vote new politicians into office, we can’t stop them from being lobbied by and becoming allies of the NRA. The entire campaign finance and lobbying system needs an overhaul.
Millions and millions of dollars to the politicians. It’s gross. I’m just numb.
ClaireB, you’re absolutely right. And that’s why a vote for Clinton is so important. She may appoint up to 3 Supreme Court justices. That opens up the possibility of overturning Citizens United and getting the worst excesses out of the system.
This is all so horrifying. I thought I could totally read all those names and look at all the victims’s pictures over at The Daily Beast while keeping it together but after a few people I had to stop because I still have 4 hours to go at work and can’t spend them in a fetal position under my desk. It’s just so. Many. People. And all of them so young. Goddamn it.
I just came back from a vigil for the victims of the Orlando mass shooting – it was so heartening to see so many people that are touched by what has happened. We can never give up trying to make the world a better place. Ever. Love is love is love is love. This has touched people all around the world, we keep everyone affected by this event in our thoughts. Love and hugs to everyone on Celebitchy tonight – from Perth, Western Australia
I lost it just hearing about if for the first time. Anderson’t tribute was all the more beautiful for his tears. I have the biggest crush on him.
He really is a lovely genuine, compassionate man, he is so good at reporting on these terrible tragedies, and I must say I got a lump in my throat too, when I saw all those lovely looking young men and girls, all just out on a Saturday night for some fun, and that terrible thing happens, why, just why do people do this.
Cried last night listening to the names of the victims being read and seeing their photos. Now I’m choked up again; at the loss of so many lives and the senselessness of it all and because the resilience of the human spirit continues to amaze and humble me.
I tried to watch this video yesterday, and before it was finished, was sobbing loudly and wishing my kids were here to hug. So hard to watch, but we all need to.
Thank you, Hecate, for an eloquent and moving post.
I don’t normally watch cnn but was flipping through and happened to catch this. It was heartbreaking. Really nice job by Anderson Cooper. There has also been some good coverage on npr interviewing families of victims. My commute had been very teary this week.
Thank you
Yea. It’s nice to see the outpouring but until we demand that the root problem with these horrific shootings – easy access to massive guns – is addressed, I can’t take comfort in any of this because we know it will happen again. And again. And again.
I know. It’s such a helpless feeling, knowing the lawmakers can take measures to help reduce and prevent all this horrific violence…but they won’t. I have never felt so powerless, I’m beyond angry.
Yes–helpless, powerless, angry that describes where I am at too.
I had a relative who is the mom of two little girls and posted a screed on social media about how she won’t be a “helpless victim” because she is packin’ heat! She’s armed with a little handgun and finds psychological comfort from thinking that is going to save her from someone with a freaking assault rifle and unlimited ammo. That is the mentality we are up against. It is bleak.
I actually had somebody on my Facebook claim that a person “could do the same damage in three hours with a baseball.” I literally had to sit there with my mouth open because I didn’t know how to respond to something so stupid. Of course you could kill someone with a baseball bat – but the point being that you can’t use it to kill FIFTY PEOPLE in a short time frame. Five people can tackle and take down a guy with a bat. Five people can get mowed down in a matter of seconds with an automatic. It is a weapon meant to kill rapidly. That is the entire point of the weapon. If you can’t acknowledge what these weapons are capable of doing, in the first place, you are NOT convincing anybody of having the rational position.
LOL. I’m sorry to laugh but that might be the most asinine thing I’ve read in a long time.
“You could do the same damage in 8 hours with a butter knife!” is next.
On one hand, I think it’s good that the gun nutters expose themselves for the idiots that they are. On the other hand, I’m kind of terrified that we’re sharing the same soil with these paranoid, cowardly, ignorant morons.
Thanks for the story, Hecate. One quick note: yes, giving blood always helps. But gay/bi men are still banned from giving blood by federal law. Ridiculous. Gay men in Orlando who want to give blood to help their gay brothers can’t do it.
You might actually want to read the FDA guidelines before saying that there is a blanket federal law ban on gay/bi men giving blood.
So thankful for a story that doesn’t give more press to the evil shooter, but to the beautiful souls that lost their lives. Praying for people to surround their families and friends with love and support.
I saw a meme that said something about “can’t be black, can’t be white, can’t be Christian, can’t be Muslim, can’t be gay, can’t be straight, can’t go to school, can’t go dancing, the land of the free, tho.” So true, so sad.
Can’t go to church…
Friday, June 17 is the one year anniversary of the Charleston Church Shooting
Gosh good point.
Can’t be Sihk.
I just fangirled SOOOO hard seeing my name on my favorite site of several years now! And I’m also very happy more people will see puppies and maybe feel some relief from their grief. I have a golden retriever (HENRY!) and he looks just like the comfort dogs so it gets me more emotional than I tend to be.
Thank you to those who pointed out yesterday that the organization behind the dogs is an excellent demonstration of religious tolerance and how we might just make it through this crazy time.
CB love, you guys.
I can’t look at the Comfort Dogs stuff. That’s instant tears for me.
Goldies are the best though ♥
Didn’t make it to the end, but definitely sobbing. Those poor people and their families.
My nephew is gay and I’m always afraid that something like this will happen to him. I do not understand the people who can do something like this. If you have a problem with gay people stay away, shut up and let them be. Anderson Cooper is fantastic. He did a amazing job!
Amen. Agree or disagree with how another person lives their life, it doesn’t change that they are just that. A person. A son, daughter, mom, dad, uncle, aunt, friend, neighbor. I hate the us vs. them mentality. It’s WE. Why is that hard for some people to understand?😞
This crystallized it for me. It’s different when you read their names in print… even with pictures, they seem divorced from reality. Hearing their names and lives spoken out loud brought tears to my eyes. Many of these people were my age.
Same here. The loss of life is sad enough, but when you hear something specific about each of them it makes it even sadder. They were PEOPLE. I didn’t know some partners died together, or about about the mother who died protecting her son. This is so heartbreaking. Something HAS to change in the US. I can’t stand this anymore.
yet another senseless act, by yet another sick person with yet another weapon he had no business having. Ain’t that America. Land of the free, home of the bullsh-t. I don’t want to suggest we should all live every day as though we are coping with the aftermath of tragedy. But why do we all only seem to come together after the fact? Sh-t needs to change here, yesterday. I get there are no easy answers or solutions, but we should all be trying. F–k the NRA. I’m not sure what speaks louder than money, but I certainly hope the reasonable, good, everyday citizens of this country find it before they do. Enough is enough. Perhaps they’d change their minds if they were gunned down by a madman? If people only care when things finally happen in their own backyards, then maybe that’s exactly what needs to happen.
What a senseless and barbaric loss of lives.
My thoughts and prayers to those who have lost loved ones and those who are waiting for their loved ones to recover. I wish them all the strength and love in the world whilst they all grieve their loss and come to terms with this terrible tragedy.
As a Muslim observing Ramadan I can’t fathom how any one could do this. Our religion doesn’t teach us to hate people from different walks of life, it teaches us to love them, respect them and accept them for who they are and what they believe in. A human being.
I’ve been following this story, it is reassuring to know there are people out there whether they are in the LGBT community or not that condemn those who use this tragedy to peddle a anti-Muslim rhetoric.
I was just reading about another tragic shooting in Oakland where more people have lost their lives. What is going on with the world? The gun laws must be reviewed, so guns don’t end up in the wrong hands and more lives are saved, not lost. It needs to be done now. How many more lives are going to be lost before politicians do something about it? This cannot continue.
This is so very sad. I really fear for the future.
I had to get off Facebook for awhile. I’m pretty moderate where gun rights are concerned, but I. Just. Can’t. with the more outspoken conservatives on my page. Like, can you, for once, shut up and have a little compassion and understanding for the actual victims and their families before you make it all about you?
nothing will ever change because the NRA bankrolls these politicians and send lobbyist out like minions to remind the politico as such….
I knew once the sandy hook thing happened….. (like damn little white kids getting shot up and no one flips the table in Washington……) yea….. nothing is EVER gonna change
Beautiful, heartbreaking eulogies from Anderson. From friend and family’s comments about their kindness and joie de vivre, their loss is monumental and it was awesome for Anderson to do this. :'(