Cape Town – Veteran South African journalist Debora Patta has reportedly been dismissed from her role as a foreign correspondent at CBS News following backlash over an alleged interview with United States Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee.
According to reports, the interview, which aired in early August, sparked widespread debate over editorial fairness, journalistic independence, and how coverage of the Gaza conflict is handled.
During the exchange, Patta questioned Huckabee about disturbing images showing starving children in Gaza. Huckabee appeared defensive, saying he was moved by the images but insisted that many of the photographs circulating online were not verified.
CBS News’ @Debora_Patta sat-down with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to discuss the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. https://t.co/xjRYYusm0o pic.twitter.com/2OYVrIBl6I
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) August 7, 2025
In the full transcript of the interview, he reportedly said, “I’m moved when the photos are verified. I mean, we’re all moved when you see someone, especially a child who’s starving. But one of the images that was published turned out not to be of a starving child — the child had a birth defect and had not been starving.”
He went on to reject claims that Israel was committing genocide, stating, “If Israel is attempting genocide, they’re really, really bad at it. It’s one of the most ridiculous things to say — that Israel is committing genocide. That’s absurd.”
Following the broadcast, Huckabee accused CBS of heavily editing the interview, claiming his responses were taken out of context and misrepresented. On his social media page, he wrote, “Ever wonder how the media edits an interview to give you a different story than the one they had?”
He then shared what he said was the full transcript to show the differences between what was said and what aired.
Full interview with C-BS
Quite different than what they aired!https://t.co/s2MX2zuD5d— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) August 9, 2025
Citing New York Post, The South African said that Patta had recently renewed her contract with CBS and had been with the broadcaster for more than a decade, covering major stories across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
She is reportedly seeking legal advice and considering possible action over her dismissal, which she is said to believe was unfair and connected to the backlash from the interview.
Patta, who has built a reputation as a fearless journalist covering wars, humanitarian crises, and political upheavals, has not yet issued a public statement.
CBS News has terminated the contract of renowned South African journalist Debora Patta following a controversial interview with Mike Huckabee
Huckabee said the interview he held in early August 2025 with Patta was heavily edited and misrepresented his views on the situation in… pic.twitter.com/GeeglsPCBs
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) November 1, 2025
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
