Last Updated on May 26, 2020
#ScumMedia trended on Twitter yesterday, as part of a wider backlash over the way the media attacked Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s senior advisor.
Dominic Cummings was the architect of the succesful Vote Leave campaign that ensured Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016. As a result, he was taken on by Boris Johnson as his senior advisor after he became Prime Minister in July of last year.
Recently, Cummings was subject to an onslaught by the media, claiming that he had broken the rules on lockdown with a trip to apparently visit his family in Durham, and a subsequent excursion to the northern town of Barnard Castle.
After days of the media firestorm, Cummings addressed the nation in a press conference, explaining that he hadn’t broken any lockdown rules, as there are exceptions in travel restrictions and guidelines relating to protecting the health of young children. He stayed in a separate building to his parents on a family farm, and did his best to self-isolate.
READ MORE: Over 20 MILLION People Entered UK With No COVID-19 Health Checks
Cummings also highlighted that one reason why at the time he did not say where he was, was that the press were practically encouraging harassment against him and his family, and did not want to subject his parents and extended family to the same attacks.
Not only this was the case, but early media reports claiming that Cummings had been subject to police advice regarding the guidelines, and that he had made a subsequent trip back to Durham, were categorically false.
As people realised much of the onslaught against Cummings was fabricated and overhyped, #ScumMedia began to trend on Twitter:
I actually think he’s doing this on purpose, this long grilling session is making the media look terrible. #cummings #ScumMedia #media #MediaVirus #cummingsstaying #Cummgate pic.twitter.com/r7f3DJGQub
— Anna Brees (@BreesAnna) May 25, 2020
I’m no fan of Mr Cummings, but this questioning is ridiculous, how many times can the same questions be asked. Will it make people flout the rules? No, we aren’t idiots, did he? No. Only the press decided he did. Idiots will be idiots #ScumMedia #DOMMUSTSTAY
— Pam (@Pureluck76) May 25, 2020
the #ScumMedia still dont get it. he broke no rules, its not his fault he read the rules when other people did not take the time to do read the governments press releases #DominicCummngs #dominiccummings
— WE GOT A PROBLEM (@problem_we) May 25, 2020
does not sound like the police in Durham think Dominic Cummings Did anything wrong by going up to Durham. more proof this is a media hit job on the elected governments adviser? #cumgate #scummedia '#dominiccummings pic.twitter.com/kpGy2oZZv7
— WE GOT A PROBLEM (@problem_we) May 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/SocialM85897394/status/1264970892502863872
Many Twitter users pointed out the hypocrisy of journalists who slammed Cummings for allegedly breaking lockdown rules, when they constantly formed media scrums outside his house, flagrantly ignoring social distancing guidelines:
— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) May 25, 2020
The more the public sees a media scrum breaking the law on social distancing as they pursue Mr Cummings, the more their anger will turn: why are the media able to break the rules? https://t.co/t4uzS87d03
— John Mann (@LordJohnMann) May 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/sweens0987/status/1264927031315378176
Social distancing clearly only applies to some people.#scummedia pic.twitter.com/rqKedZtSvA
— AGP (@AgentP22) May 25, 2020
Other Twitter users also pointed out that Cummings’s fears of subjecting his parents to harassment were proved right when Sky News doorstepped their Durham home:
https://twitter.com/MoggMentum/status/1265051929396289536
Not a good look, @SkyNews To put it mildly. https://t.co/wwjouhkeVK
— Andrew Neil (@afneil) May 25, 2020
READ MORE: UK: Shadow COVID-19 Science Advisory Group Full of Communists, Conspiracy Theorists
While not necessarily contained within the #ScumMedia hashtag, journalists in the alt-media highlighted that the mainstream media had repeatedly ignored genuine violations of lockdown guidelines from Labour and SNP MPs, including having picnics, attending funerals, and going to birthday parties:
https://twitter.com/tomhfh/status/1264830794410930177
https://twitter.com/JackBMontgomery/status/1265222729743183874
At the time of writing, Cummings has not resigned, despite mounting pressure for him to do so.
