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Dr. Drew
Brazilian Police Say U.S. Swimmers Made Up Robbery Story; Alleged Cannibal Killer Austin Harrouff Remains Hospitalized; Blake Shelton Under Fire over Tweets
Aired August 18, 2016 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(START VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ryan Lochte made it all up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very clearly police are saying Ryan Lochte and friends -- Lochte and friends were not robbed. They were not victims.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brazilian police laying out the case against four U.S. swimmers saying, despite their claims, they were never robbed, as they
described it.
This all started as a tale told by Olympic gold medal swimmer Ryan Lochte about an armed robbery in Rio of him and three other gold medal winning
U.S. swimmers. He said a gun was held to his forehead. Now this is an international incident.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Basically hijacking the Olympic games, and then it`s not true. Wow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DREW PINSKY, DR. DREW ON CALL HOST: Police in Rio say drunken American athletes vandalized a gas station. They themselves were not robbed.
Brazilian authorities insist the story that gold medalist Ryan Lochte told the media is completely wrong. So, what made them suspicious? Well, it was
this surveillance tape. Take a look at it.
(START VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What really happened in the wee hours there in Brazil? The gas station owner now said the athletes threw some rocks, ripped a
sign, and even urinated outside. The athletes are then seen trying to leave.
At one point, you see them trying to get in the wrong taxi cab. After they -- here you go, finally get to the right one. They were approached by a man
who appears to be in a uniform, and appears to be armed, as we see one of the U.S. swimmers here raising his hands in surrender.
The next surveillance video shows one of the swimmers -- wait for it. You`ll see him fall to the ground. Here you go. And they -- they appear to
be forced to - to sit down there on the concrete. One of the swimmers stands up and then the surveillance video we`re given ends.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PINSKY: CNN sports analyst Christine Brennan joins me live from Rio. Christine, thanks for joining us. Where are these athletes now?
CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: Great question. Well, Ryan Lochte is safely back in the United States where he`s been for a couple of days now,
Drew. And the other three Americans are here.
Although we`re hearing that two of the three, the ones who were pulled off their plane yesterday may well be headed back to the airport or even at the
airport to fly back 24 hours after they thought they were going to.
The final of the four, Jimmy Feigen, is said to still be in town talking to authorities, giving his side of the story to the police. So, I think that
accounts for all four of them. Obviously a crazy day with all kinds of things happening there.
PINSKY: Christine, I think I`m asking for kind of an opinion here. If you don`t feel comfortable, please, I understand. But is there any part of Ryan
Lochte`s story that we can consider sort of non-fabricated.
In other words, is it possible he thought that the guy with the weapon was a criminal? He was being robbed and he was drunk and misinterpreting
things. Is that even a possibility?
BRENNAN: I guess having listened to the story and covered the story and helping to break the story with CNN now for over a hundred hours, Drew, I
guess anything is possible. I think as a journalist, you have to say that.
We`ve seen it all here and -- and I have no idea how this is all gonna end and play out. But it defies -- I`m sorry, it defies futility. That -- that
the story that Ryan Lochte told the other day which was in an entirely different place, a cab is being stopped and now it`s a gas station, and of
course the allegations of vandalism and public urination.
It defies futility, that we could say that that story that we first heard from Ryan Lochte that he told NBC on Sunday afternoon, that that story is -
- is consistent with this story.
And I think, if I may, that when you think about this, if he had just kept his mouth shut on Sunday, and just not told his mom, his mom doesn`t talk
and he doesn`t talk. Well, we all would be in a lot better place today.
Athletes who should be getting attention would be getting that attention as the games draw to a close. Instead, we`re talking about what looks like
allegedly, anyway, ugly Americanism at its worst.
PINSKY: All right, Christine. Thank you. Hang on there. I think what I`m hearing you saying, I`m not surprised, that this story usurped the -- the -
- the Olympics. That this thing we should -- the -- the enjoyment we should be getting from watching the athletes perform has now been usurped by this
-- this headline.
Joining me to discuss all this. I have Anneelise Goetz, attorney, Darren Kavinoky, attorney, Spirit, psychotherapist, and on the phone, Steve Moore,
former special agent with the FBI.
Analize, first, let me ask something. So the other two athletes get to the airport here state side and they`re what, not let through customs? They
have to turn around and go back or not let through the board? Have to turn around and go back? How does that work?
ANNEELISE GOETZ, ATTORNEY: From what I understood they had their passports compensated. You know, they headed back. The police went in and started
interrogation. What I think is amazing here is that what -- what you said is correct. It`s all about Ryan.
The whole Olympics has now turned into this guy. It`s not even all four swimmers. Everyone is talking about Ryan. He`s Kardashianed this whole
thing. He`s trying to get his next reality series.
It was canned after one season. And I think that he just can`t get enough publicity, and to the detriment of his teammates because he has guys he
left behind and he can`t keep his mouth shut. Instead, he`s talking to every press that will listen to him.
PINSKY: And Spirit, why -- why go through all this? Why fabricate such a story? That`s what I was asking Christine about. I`m trying to think of his
motivation. Maybe he was drunk and misinterpreted what was going on.
SPIRIT, PSYCHOTHERAPIST: Yeah, perhaps he was and he acted totally out of character. But, you know, Dr. Drew, this is the entitlement that so many
people speak about. Not only in this country but all over the world.
And so when you ask who was robbed. It wasn`t Mr. Lochte here. It`s the people of Rio. And he owes an entire nation an apology. Both nation as a
matter of fact.
PINSKY: Well, and maybe all the people interested in the Olympics, too, that have been sidetracked by this crazy story. Steve...
SPIRIT: Oh, no, the nation -- the nation of Brazil.
PINSKY: I hear you. I get it. I hear what you`re saying. I hear you. Steve, what are the actual crimes here? What are the penalties at issue?
STEVE MOORE, FORMER SPECIAL AGENT WITH THE FBI: Well, I think all you`ve got, really, is misdemeanor -- misdemeanor vandalism and then really they
could actually get him for lying to the police. I mean, we have statutes like that. I`ve used that statute against somebody reporting a false
federal crime. They would be in trouble. But I don`t think so.
DARREN KAVINOKY, ATTORNEY: Yeah, but with the feds, they have teeth, Drew. With -- with this kind of manner, I don`t believe that this is an
extraditable offense. So, if you`re Ryan Lochte`s attorney, you`re probably just gonna tell your client you`ve seen Rio for the last time.
But, by the way, you know, even though we have the thin patina of the Olympic games and all that glitters being gold, this isn`t the first time
we`ve heard about real criminal behavior going on and what really happens behind the scenes in Rio.
There have been legitimate cases of robberies that have been reported. So let`s not be so quick to judge whether or not Ryan Lochte is just entirely
made or misperceived this entire event.
SPIRIT: Oh, give me a break. No way. He should not -- that is the excuse and that`s what supports entitlement right there. Maybe he didn`t do it and
maybe he didn`t mean it. But it really does happen. So, he`s not wrong.
PINSKY: Yeah.
SPIRIT: No. We need to stand up and say he was wrong and it`s totally unacceptable. Period.
KAVINOKY: I think it`s unacceptable that we`ve got three minutes of this surveillance tape that has gone missing. And Just before we were
absolutely...
SPIRIT: Excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse.
(CROSSTALK)
PINSKY: CNN has not documented any lost, any missing tape, Darren. But let me -- let me talk about what`s next, which is what did he reveal, Ryan
Lochte, without even speaking a word. We`re gonna get a body language expert here with answers.
And later, Blake Shelton owns up some really ugly tweets. He apologizes. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(START VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An extraordinary mess, if this really is the case. But in fact, they got in an altercation at a gas station because of damage they
had done there. How on earth did that suddenly turn into a story about armed robbery. Why did they require that level of excuse?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ryan Lochte, 32-year-old, kind of catch guy, very carefree, social media icon. No surprise that he would be in the middle of
something that maybe went awry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don`t necessarily say that it`s boorish behavior or anything else, but something does not smell right here. I`m not talking
about the trashing of the bathroom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It looks to me, at least, like Brazil is spinning this because they didn`t like the story in the first place, and that`s
apparently what Ryan`s lawyer is indicating as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PINSKY: American Olympian Ryan Lochte on national television claimed that he and his roommates were robbed in Rio at gunpoint. Brazilian police say
that story is a lie.
Back with Anneelise, Darren, Spirit, host of My Current Situation Atlanta on Centric T.V., and Steve, and joining us, Blanca Cobb from the Body
Language Institute. Blanca, take a look at Ryan Lochte telling his story on NBC. Let`s play that tape.
(START VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brazilian authorities say they have more questions for two of the four American swimmers who claim they were robbed at gunpoint in
Rio on Sunday
An incident Ryan Lochte recounted on Instagram. "My teammates and I were the victims of a robbery early Sunday morning." and on NBC`s "Today" show
on Monday.
RYAN LOCHTE, SWIMMER: And we got pulled over in our taxi. A guy pulled out his gun. He cocked it, put it to my forehead, and said get down. I put my
hands up like whatever. He took our money. He took my wallet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PINSKY: Blanca, what do you see body language wise when you watch him recount the story?
BLANCA COBB, BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT: Well, what wasn`t in the clip that I have seen is when he talked about that we didn`t do anything wrong. And
then he gives a shoulder shrug. When you give a shoulder shrug, it doesn`t -- he`s not committed to his answer.
PINSKY: I didn`t think...
COBB: That does not really stood out.
PINSKY: But perhaps I didn`t do anything wrong. I`m not really sure what went on there. I can`t really remember, maybe.
COBB: Right. This did not really happen and my body is just giving me away.
PINSKY: Anneelise, I`m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, right? I mean, it`s possible -- it`s entirely possible. By the way, no, but,
Spirit, why? maybe it`s factual. I mean, the reality is we see him -- we see him being -- there`s a gun out. He does get down. He does -- I don`t
know what he gives the guy. Who knows?
SPIRIT: Everything else about the story, though, was a lie! The only thing that was right about that story that we saw was there was a taxi cab, Dr.
Drew.
Come on, my 5-year-old in kindergarten knows the difference between a lie and a truth. And he is lying all over the place and nobody will say that.
Everybody wants to give him the benefit of the doubt. Why?
PINSKY: Well, let`s go back to Blanca. Blanca, is that shoulder shrug or do you see any actual evidence of lying or just uncertainty?
COBB: Well, let`s take this a step further, Dr. Drew. Let`s listen to his words. Initially he said they pulled out their guns. They told the other
swimmers to get on the ground. Then, later on he said, the guy pulled out his gun. He cocked it and put it to my forehead.
Where do we go from they to the guy? And then secondarily, the gun is already pulled out. Why does the guy have to pull it out again? Unless
there`s something to the story he`s not telling or it`s fabricated.
If the guy put his gun back, then that should be part of the story and put it back and brought it back out and pointed it to my forehead. You have to
listen to his words.
PINSKY: Darren, what about the spin that Mark Garrett (ph) was suggesting in that tape we watched. This is the Brazilian government trying to save
face. They didn`t like the story. They`re going to push it back on the swimmers. This entitled Americans?
KAVINOKY: Well, I think there`s really some -- some traction to be had there. Brazil had its problems. They`ve been well documented. And certainly
they need a graceful exit to this story. Ryan Lochte and the crew not giving it to them. And the world at large not giving it to them.
But, there`s got to be a graceful exit out of this entire mess. And -- and I think we`re really, you know, we`re trying to parse his body language and
words but we`re taking things from Instagram and we`re taking statements that aren`t given as sworn declarations under oath in court.
We`re really just trying to piece it together. The likely outcome he`s drunk, he`s behaving badly. If you are an American in an foreign country,
you`ve got to comport to the foreign country`s laws. If they do it different in Brazil, then tough.
PINSKY: What I find -- what I find amusing is that Spirit finds us amusing. We`re trying to understand.
SPIRIT: Listen because I`m gonna tell you why. This is sounding more and more like hash tag crime in while white. I`m so sorry. I cannot -- I cannot
ignore the racial component here.
PINSKY: All right.
SPIRIT: This is getting more and more the benefit of the doubt. It`s almost disgusting.
KAVINOKY: I`ll be a white guy to call Lochte a felony stupid. I mean, this is...
PINSKY: Well. Listen.
SPIRIT: It`s worse than that. It`s worse than that! That`s my problem, the minimizing.
PINSKY: NBC Matt Lauer called Lochte and asked him to clarify what happened. Here. Watch this.
(START VIDEO CLIP)
MATT LAUER, TELEVISION JOURNALIST, NBC: When he talked to me tonight he said that`s when the guy pointed the gun in my direction and cocked it. And
I pointedly said to him, you had said before it was placed on your forehead and cocked. He said, no, that`s not exactly what happened. And I think he
feels it was more of a traumatic mischaracterization.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PINSKY: Lochte, traumatic mischaracterization. I`m not quite sure what that means. Do you have any sense there?
COBB: No. I don`t either. I don`t know what that means. But here is the deal, Dr. Drew. When people are traumatized, things can change a little
bit, but the integrity of the story is intact.
Sure, there might be a couple of details that might change, but when you have a great interviewer to ask questions, put the person right back into
that situation, so they can recount it again.
PINSKY: Steve, you want to make a comment. Please go ahead.
MOORE: First of all, if they hadn`t been vandalizing the bathroom, what you`ve got here -- you think about this in America. You have a security
guard pointing a gun at somebody over breaking a mirror. I mean, you do have the other side of this.
It may have seen -- I don`t think they believed it was, but it may have seemed like a robbery to them having a gun pointed at their heads. And I
think the saying that this happened because they were white and entitled is -- is really offensive.
PINSKY: We`ll keep this going. Hold it. Hold your thoughts.
SPIRIT: So it is the way you guys minimize it.
PINSKY: I`m not trying to -- I`m just trying to look at it from all angles because it`s occupying the news cycle today.
Later, nice guy, Blake Shelton and his not so nice at all tweets. What is up with that? Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(START VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you kidding me right now? Big meet like this? Tomorrow morning. Be ready and responsible.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Describe yourself as a player.
LOCHTE: Describe player.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PINSKY: That was a clip from Ryan Lochte`s 2013 reality show called "What would Ryan Lochte do?." The Esquire Network reportedly planning to re-air a
marathon of the show`s first and only season this week. So, if you want to know what is going on in his head or what he`s like, I guess that`s a
version of Ryan Lochte.
Back with Anneelise, Darren, Spirit, Steve, and Blanca. Now, Darren, Ryan Lochte -- were you trying to say something, Anneelise? I saw you sort of
yelling at the camera.
GOETZ: I said nothing is going on in his head. That`s the problem.
(LAUGHTER)
SPIRIT: There`s a lot, it`s just not what we`re all looking at. That`s all.
GOETZ: He`s a 32-year-old drunk party boy that has got international attention. That`s what`s happening.
PINSKY: Harsh. He`s a gold medalist. He`s an athlete.
GOETZ: Against all odds. I can`t believe that he`s a gold medalist. The way that he treats this country, the way that he doesn`t seem to have any
respect for what is going on over there in the Olympics. To me, it`s an embarrassment as an American.
PINSKY: Okay. So -- so, the way he behaved, the way he reported this, the fact he was drunk and then he blamed somebody for whatever happened. That`s
offensive to you. Spirit, you don`t want to give him the benefit of the doubt. I just find it fascinated to both of you.
SPIRIT: No -- no.
KAVINOKY: I guess I`m the only one who is...
SPIRIT: Dr. Drew, I`m waiting. I`m waiting to hear the same language -- no I`m waiting to hear the same language here on this program from these
panelist that I hear used for individuals that do far less than this.
Where is the word thug? Where is hooligan? Where is vandals? Where is -- he should be ashamed. Where are all of those words instead of the minimization
that we made. Well, maybe perhaps he did it. Well, this is not that big deal. This is a problem. This is a splangate (ph) and we should be ashamed.
PINSKY: You know what? Spirit, I like the way you framed it. Because -- because what has preoccupied us is is it true or is it not? Is it a lie or
is it a fabrication or he is just drunk? But I will grant you, you`re representing your country, you`re walking around wasted, you vandalized.
Why would you shame -- shame on him. He looks like a -- he`s vandalizing things. I mean, these are words that apply...
SPIRIT: He`s paying outside. Come on, you`re the gold medalist representing our country. Shouldn`t we all say shame on you? You should know better? At
minimum, Dr. Drew.
PINSKY: Criminal behavior in a foreign country and expecting to be bailed out because he`s a medalist and he is hubris. It`s something I hate, a
hubris.
SPIRIT: And shaming the police. Shaming the law enforcement. Shaming the citizens of that city.
PINSKY: I think -- I think it`s because he doesn`t remember what happened. Now, I don`t want brow (ph) on the panel, though. So, Darren, can you
understand what I`m saying? This is what you might have been look at that age?
KAVINOKY: Oh, yeah, absolutely. Maybe I`m projecting and personalizing too much but I can relate to Ryan Lochte for making one bad decision after
worse or getting out to go and deface the wall behind...
PINSKY: I don`t need to know all what you did. Darren, stop. I don`t need to know every boring detail. The hubris of thinking that the government is
going to bail you out. That`s actually rally concerning, isn`t it?
SPIRIT: Come on.
(CROSSTALK)
PINSKY: Go ahead, Steve.
MOORE: Well, what I found is the people who go overseas. I worked with a lot of students who are going over on foreign exchange programs. They
somehow get this feeling that they can get away with things overseas that they couldn`t get away with in the United States.
And in reality, it`s the reverse. You can`t get away with a lot of stuff that you take for granted in the United States. You bring your passport but
you don`t bring your bill of rights. I`ve got to agree with Spirit. This is shameful behavior. I`m not trying to minimize it.
And -- and I don`t think the thought that they were being robbed. But it was something that just -- just really dragged America through the mud. And
the Brazilians are not gonna let it go because they`ve been hammered over this. They`ve got to have an embarrassing...
PINSKY: And Blanca, you know, the voracity versus none of the story is at issue. I mean, that`s really what`s occupy that`s why it has been a mystery
and the press sort of following it. Anything more you can add to help us sort out what is real?
COBB: You listen to somebody talk. You want to make sure what they`re saying is the truth. That`s all we`ve got. We have somebody`s word. That`s
it. We have to have -- we have to be able to believe what somebody is saying.
So, when you have somebody who is representing our country and is a gold medalist and they`re lying and making other people look bad, it represents
our country and not in a good way. He has to take responsibility.
KAVINOKY: But that doesn`t undo all of the wrongs that happened in Brazil where people have been legitimately robbed...
(CROSSTALK)
PINSKY: Darren, Lochte is sponsored by Speedo, Airweave, Marriott, Polo, Polo Ralph Lauren. This could be a very costly evening for him. Could it
not?
KAVINOKY: I would agree with that. I would not be shocked to see major brands distance themselves from Lochte not because of the behavior at five
in the morning but because of the lack of integrity that he demonstrated afterwards.
MOORE: Don`t be surprised to see charges filed after they leave.
PINSKY: And Steve or Anneelise, maybe you can help me -- well, Steve, to that point. This is what I`m trying to figure out. I don`t understand the
business about, I mean, you can`t get extradited until you`ve been charged and are they really going to go through -- you`ve been guilty, right? Who
is going to do all that? I mean, it`s gonna be a mess, right?
MOORE: They don`t want to charge these people. They don`t want to charge them. They don`t want them in jail. They don`t want to ask for extradition.
They`re going to let them out of the country and then they`re gonna charge them and then they won`t ask for an extradition and look magnanimous.
PINSKY: Do you agree, Anneelise?
GOETZ: Yeah. I mean, I think they might ask and they won`t get it. It doesn`t matter one way or the other. The point is, they -- at this point in
time, if you`re one of the four swimmers or the three that are left, you have to get out of there. That`s the end game.
Get out of the country. Because while Ryan stays in the United States and will take every press interview that is requested, he is digging the hole
deeper and deeper for his teammates. Literally his teammates that he has left over there in Rio.
PINSKY: All right. Next up, we have the alleged so called cannibal killer who police say bit a man`s face off. There`s information tonight. He`s
speaking out through his You Tube videos.
And later, Blake Shelton said he was being funny and humorous. Not hateful. It led to a controversial, and many say, an offensive series of tweets.
Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(START VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are either of them injured? Can you tell from where you are?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: yes, there`s a girl laying on the ground. He beat her up. I ran over there. I`m bleeding profusely. My wife`s looking at my back
and it appears I got punctured.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re stabbed in the neck, in the head. Three -- three puncture wounds
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That call made by a Florida man who tried to save his neighbors from a brutal and unprovoked attack. Police say 19-year-old
Austin Harrouff was agitated when he stumbled upon John and Michelle Stevens in their garage.
Harrouff allegedly beat the couple and used a switchblade to inflict fatal injuries. A responding deputy found the suspect on top of the male victim
in his driveway. He was reportedly biting and removing pieces of the victim`s face with his teeth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PINSKY: This alleged cannibal killer Austin Harrouff remained hospitalized. He`s unable to speak because he is still in ICU on a ventilator. But his
You Tube videos give us a glimpse into him and his life. Take a look.
(START VIDEO CLIP)
AUSTIN HARROUFF, TEEN ACCUSED OF KILLING: What`s up, guys? I just want to let you know that I came to a realization of something. I no longer want to
follow Arnold or any other body builder. I want to follow myself, you know.
I want to actually believe in myself. I know what`s right for me. I don`t need drugs. I know that they can change me, but the thing is, that`s not
being healthy, you know. I think that steroids really aren`t for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PINSKY: Back with Anneelise, Darren, and Spirit. Spirit, he says no steroids. He doesn`t appear to have the usual vascularity that we see with
somebody abusing steroids. He said drugs are not for him, but it sounds like somebody may have tried drugs in a weird way. Did it strike you that
way?
SPIRIT: Yeah, for sure. I mean, and struggling with self-esteem issues, not sure of who he is. I mean, there`s definitely something there, Dr. Drew.
Probably some mental health issues underlying.
PINSKY: Yeah.
SPIRIT: There`s a lot.
PINSKY: Yeah. You start to see the grandiosity and some of the strange thinking. He posted that video to You Tube just four days before he
allegedly attacked that couple.
Now, Anneelise, there would be a huge difference in this guy`s defense if this was a drug-induced episode. A drug reaction or something he
voluntarily takes or took versus this having been his first psychotic episode. Correct?
GOETZ: Correct. So, Dr. Drew, when you voluntarily take drugs, then you are accepting the consequences of your actions while you`re on those drugs. It
doesn`t matter that you would never have done that if you weren`t on that substance. The second that you take the pill, the second you take the
drink, you accept the corresponding consequences of your actions.
And so if he was on drugs, and we`ve heard some reports that his conduct is reflective of what you might see on certain we called bath salts or
something along those lines.
PINSKY: Let me stop you just to give a point -- a little focus on that which is something called embalm which is another sort of modified bath
salt and Flakka. These are relatives of amphetamine that in altered give it hallucinogenic properties.
And they are associated with these idiosyncratic reactions and seeming to have super strength and they developed what`s called an agitated delirium.
Users also can see extraordinary strength, much like Flakka, that can break down their muscles, that can cause kidney failure, but that`s a -- that`s a
separate story. I`m sorry, Anneelise. I couldn`t resist. Go ahead.
GOETZ: No, I think it`s right on point, though. Because those are reflective of what we saw in this attack. But, if it was drugs, and it
sounds like it might have been drugs, then I don`t care. I don`t care. He is a murderer. He murdered two people and aggravated assault against a
third and you`re not getting something out of me for that.
PINSKY: And Darren, no sympathy from the law either, right? I mean, if you have a voluntary injection that causes you to not know right from wrong,
you still are accountable for the voluntary ingestion, right?
KAVINOKY: Right. A a legal proposition, that`s true, although I don`t know. I mean, at this point, obviously more will be revealed as there`s more
toxicology reports that -- that are generated.
I know that there is some ongoing digging that needs to be done. Clearly, though, whether it`s a voluntary intoxication or just straight up mental
illness, there`s something to be investigated and done here.
PINSKY: And, Spirit, it`s important to remind people that 18 to 22 is the window in which mental illness can emerge -- major mental illness in which
psychosis is a part of it, so bipolar mania or schizophrenic episode and...
SPIRIT: It`s true. Dr. Drew, I`ve never met anybody that has bitten off a face though, Dr. Drew.
PINSKY: No. That is strange.
SPIRIT: Come on.
PINSKY: No, but agitated delirium can be associated with very bizarre behavior and they`re typically drug-induced but no necessarily. I was
reading some data today that suggested young males with their first presentation are the most likely category to be seriously violent.
Later on with mental illness people are more likely to be a victim of violence than to be violent. Now people think this is sort of unheard of
behavior, but I want to share one story with you quickly which is a California mixed martial artist who is serving a 50-year sentence for
having literally ripped the beating heart out of his sparring partner.
Jarrod Wyatt and Taylor Powell ingested hallucinogenic mushrooms. They also were on steroids and opioids and there were multiple things going on.
Hallucinogenic, opioids, steroids, why believed Powell was the devil. This was the delusion he was in.
Ripped out his heart, threw it to a burning wood stove, tore out his tongue, and had no idea what he was doing and has no recollection of it.
When the police got there, he greeted them covered in bleed. But Anneelise, because it was drug-induced, you still have no sympathy?
GOETZ: For that guy? No. I don`t have any sympathy. Don`t do the drugs. Don`t go on steroids. Don`t do mushrooms. Come on. It`s illegal. And you`re
putting everyone out at risk when you do that. Someone is dead because he wanted to do mushrooms. No. I don`t have sympathy for that.
PINSKY: And, Spirit, to your point you were bringing up and calling us out during the last story, the Olympic story, there is new controversy erupting
around this story. In 2012, another face mauling incident occurred in Florida. That is where lots of embalm and lots of Flakka being used.
The perpetrator, Rudy Eugene, was a 31-year-old black man attacking a homeless man again with a chewing behavior as all we saw in this particular
case. When this man ignored officer`s demand to stop, he was shot and killed. So Spirit, no taser, no canine, no rubber bullets and none of the
sort of usual commands to stop before fatal force.
SPIRIT: In America, Dr. Drew, we want to act like skin color does not define consequences nor people`s biases until we get real and suggest
there`s perhaps something to it. These are going to continue to happen. These stories.
PINSKY: It is sort of striking.
SPIRIT: These are gonna continue to happen.
PINSKY: This is -- this is a great example. Darren, do you agree?
KAVINOKY: Well, is it possible that now what we`re seeing is some mild evolution that there`s some mild evolution in behavior. I mean, in the fact
that they didn`t kill this guy. I think...
(CROSSTALK)
SPIRIT: ... Baltimore, L.A., there`s so many examples that would tell me, no, that`s likely not.
PINSKY: When I heard the story about this kid having been shot and so quickly shot. It was the striking similarities to this particular case, but
this was a whiter but, you know, suburban neighborhood and stuff. And, you know, it`s hard to escape at least discussing this.
At first I was a little -- I don`t know. I didn`t want to do it because I thought too much. Come on, everybody. But then you really look at it. I`ve
come over to Spirit`s side.
KAVINOKY: Yeah. Well, look, just because you chew somebody`s face off doesn`t mean you automatically get shot. But we really don`t know whether
or not this was simply a mental illness, a psychotic break, and something. Frankly, shooting him would have been inappropriate.
PINSKY: All right. Well, yeah. We don`t know the details. We don`t know the details on both.
SPIRIT: I can`t. I can`t. I just can`t.
PINSKY: We`re going to drop it. Next up, do some of Blake Shelton`s tweets reveal something not so savory? Maybe not, maybe yes. He`ll explain after
the break. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(START VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Singer and T.V. star Blake Shelton is under fire after someone dug up several homophobic and racist tweets that he posted dating
back to 2008.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wish the (beep) in the next room would either shut up or learn some English so I would at least know what he`s planning to bomb.
Grown men who wear Chuck Taylor`s may as well write on their foreheads "cucumbers turn me on!"
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PINSKY: And those are just some of the tweets. They sparked a huge backlash prompting Shelton to apologize. Here it is, quote, everyone knows comedy
has been a major part of my career and it`s always been out there for anyone to see.
That said anyone who knows me also knows I have no tolerance for hate of any kind or form. Can my humor at times be inappropriate and immature? Yes,
hateful, never, that`s how I deeply apologize to anybody who may have been offended.
Back with Anneelise, Darren, and Spirit. Joining us is Matt Alan, radio host. Now, Matt, these tweets, are they offensive to you?
MATT ALAN, RADIO HOST: Oh, gosh, yes. How dare you offend me.
(LAUGHTER)
ALAN: This ruined my life. It`s ridiculous to even make this an issue.
PINSKY: Well, they -- I mean, Spirit, they`re homophobic for sure. Let me show you one from 2011. Standing in line at a coffee shop in L.A. talking
with the man in front of me. He orders a skinny caramel latte. I couldn`t tell he was gay.
From 2015, question for my gay followers, are Skittles y`all favorite candy? Now, I mean, it -- it really does, though, expose homophobia here.
ALAN: I don`t --I don`t -- I don`t see that as homophobia in any way shape or form.
PINSKY: Spirit?
SPIRIT: Well, I just think it`s ironic because in the line, he says, specifically, I have no tolerance for hate of any kind. Clearly you do! You
have a tolerance and you use it in the form of jokes that are not funny to a certain group of people. But, I mean, if that`s what comedy is, we`ve
heard that from many comedians, who say, oh...
PINSKY: Well. Wait. Wait.
SPIRIT: But I don`t find it funny. I don`t find it funny.
PINSKY: I think Spirit is going too far calling this guy a comedian.
ALAN: Forget homophobic. He calls himself a comedian.
SPIRIT: So he calls himself a comedian.
PINSKY: No, but he is -- he is not making -- his job is not creating comedy. That`s not his job.
ALAN: I think he`s going too far in using the word irony and not using it correctly, frankly. I`m offended. I`m offended by that.
PINSKY: Anneelise, what are you trying to get at?
SPIRIT: As you should be.
GOETZ: I just want to say, I read the tweets. I didn`t like them. Frankly, I think less of him as a result. What really bothered me was his quote,
unquote apology where he says, I`m sorry that you feel bad.
PINSKY: Yeah.
GOETZ: Which is essentially like as my husband. The worst thing you can say, I`m sorry that you feel bad. Put all the other person. You`re not
really sorry. That`s not an apology.
KAVINOKY: I wanna get Anneelise`s husband involved in this conversation so we can really find out what`s going on. No, it`s -- I don`t know that any
of this new Blake Shelton as a comedian...
PINSKY: No.
KAVINOKY: ... but I think in looking at some of these tweets, I lie myself with magic matter on this one. It maybe just reveals my own immaturity. Not
a great jokester but probably not homophobic at least in those comments.
ALAN: Not in any way shape or form. I have many friends of mine who happen to be homosexual.
SPIRIT: That`s what I was waiting to hear hear. I got a lot of gay friends.
(CROSSTALK)
ALAN: Listen. The bottom line here is it`s a joke.
PINSKY: Hold on that. Hold on that. Go ahead.
SPIRIT: I`m offended.
PINSKY: Matt, go ahead, please.
ALAN: Then my job is done. Offense this. When did Americans become so wussified? Why can`t we not say what`s on our mind? By the way, don`t go
out of your way to hurt someone.
But it`s not a homophobic to make that sort of statement in line at Starbucks. You`re joking around. I have no problem with that. I am not
homophobic in any way, shape, or form.
And I`ve always felt that your sexual proclivity, whatever it happens to be, have a happy day. It doesn`t offend me but don`t shove it down my
throat.
PINSKY: I`ll give you another post from 2009, quote, if you haven`t noticed Richard Simmons is gay, you haven`t noticed Katy Perry`s boobs. So,
Anneelise, we have like -- listen -- we need a different language to this maybe.
It`s sexism, right? And it`s insensitivity to how that will be received by -- let`s think of a young gay male who is having difficulty coming out,
something like that.
GOETZ: He`s a public figure and what he`s saying, I think, is offensive. And -- and I don`t think it`s being wussified in the United States. I think
it`s what called having little bit of empathy for those around you and not make fun of someone because they`re different.
ALAN: He may lack that by at least being authentic to who he is. He`s creating his crowd, Anneelise. He`s making sure that only those people who
are just as immature as he is are going to continue to follow and interact with him.
KAVINOKY: Yes, mighty Kevin -- or should I call you a cue ball. Does that offend you? I doubt it.
PINKSY: Things you`ll never hear. Richard Simmons, Jr., does that -- does that offend you?
ALAN: It`s a joke. It is a joke. If we take ourselves too seriously -- by the way, I think the problem that Mr. Shelton has here is apologizing. It`s
like these are my statements. I went out on a limb. These are -- and they are jokes. I don`t offer any apology. I guess unless you are offended by
this. I hate that you`re having a happy day because of this ridiculous remark.
PINSKY: Got to take a break. The problem is, though, these jokes add to stereotype. They do expose in him, at least an insensitivity, whatever word
you want to talk about it. It strikes -- it gets you when he`s able to talk that way. I think about how it`s being received by people who may be
struggling with these issues. It ain`t good. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(START VIDEO CLIP)
BLAKE SHELTON, SINGER: She put the her in hurt. She put the why in try. She put the SOB in sober. She put the hang in hangover. She put in ex in sex.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PINSKY: We`re talking about Blake Shelton and the controversy surrounding his frankly homophobic, racist, sexist tweets. Back with Anneelise, Darren,
Spirit, and Matt. Oh, let`s see, Anneelise, do you think -- do you think his fans are caring about these tweets?
GOETZ: I hope that they are. I do. I hope that they are. I think there`s an incorrect perception that country music has prejudice built into it. And so
I would like to see his country music fans be upset about it.
PINSKY: And Anneelise, why do you think it`s you and I it strikes -- Spirit, probably, I`m sure you, too. It strikes our ear harshly when we
hear someone talk like this. But Darren and Matt seemed -- you say we`re being wussies for responding to it. Matt?
ALAN: Maybe it`s because we know who we are, we know that we`re not homophobic, and we`re not racist in any way.
PINSKY: But I would argue...
KAVINOKY: And immature.
PINSKY: Immature, Darren, I`ll grant you that.
ALAN: Little bit. I`m in on that.
PINSKY: Spirit, I would argue though that these kind of statements -- yes, he`s not a hateful person. Yes, he`s not advocating violence. But it
exposes something about him. Let`s say insensitivity, lack of empathy.
(CROSSTALK)
SPIRIT: Well, you know, I sit here and I listen and I go what a luxury to be so oblivious and -- and privileged that you can minimize the pain of
individuals simply because you don`t get it. I wonder what it must be like.
PINSKY: How is that, Matt. What is it like, Matt?
ALAN: It`s called -- it`s called -- it`s called life. There are ups and downs. And you`re saying that no one should ever hear a negative thing
whatsoever in their life?
PINSKY: No, no, no.
SPIRIT: No.
PINSKY: It`s just -- we`re saying it exposes something about this guy we didn`t know. It`s kind of telling.
ALAN: No, I don`t think it`s telling in any way. It`s -- it`s the way the majority of folks may think but this guy tweets it.
(CROSSTALK)
PINSKY: Hold on. Anneelise. I`m going to give Anneelise a crack at this. Go ahead. We`re running out of time. Go ahead.
GOETZ: I mean, I think if it is a way the majority of people think that generation is changing, thank God. I don`t see it with my friends and my
community, and I hope we see less of those kinds of tweets.
ALAN: Because they don`t tell you the truth. They don`t tell you the truth.
GOETZ: Yeah, they do. And I know my friends! I know my friends! I know how they feel. I know how they think. And they don`t think that way.
(CROSSTALK)
PINSKY: Yes, it is. We`re gonna leave it there. Thank you all for watching. Nancy Grace is up next.
END
