Author Stephen King has criticized ABC News over the network's coverage of headlines surrounding its parent company Disney.
Broadcaster ABC is part of the Disney Entertainment division of the Walt Disney Company. ABC has been under the Disney umbrella since 1996.
It author King, who regularly uses his social-media platform to weigh in on a broad range of subjects, took to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday to express his objections to some of ABC's recent coverage of Disney, given the relationship.
He wrote: "ABC Nightly News: For three 30-minute broadcasts in a row, ABC News has featured stories about Disney. They are, in fact, the same corporation. This is advertising masquerading as news. Shame on ABC. You need to do better."
King did not specify the coverage that he took issue with. Newsweek has contacted representatives of ABC News and King via email for comment.
The author's post comes weeks after he called out CNN anchor Jake Tapper over a colorful item of clothing, resulting in a tongue-in-cheek exchange online in which he asked the host if he had lost a bet.
After watching The Lead With Jake Tapper in late July, King asked on X: "What's with Jake Tapper's tie? Did he lose a bet?"
Tapper reposted King's comment and sharing a screenshot of himself while on TV, showcasing the tie the writer was referring to. The item in question featured yellow with purple detailing that resembled flowers.
"This tie shall forevermore be known as IT," Tapper wrote, referring to King's hit novel.
King is an avid social-media user, who often utilizes his platform to share his take on various matters and criticize such figures as former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, whose acquisition of X was finalized in October 2022.
Back in November 2022—weeks after Musk officially acquired X—King expressed his dissatisfaction with the direction the microblogging platform had taken.
"I think Elon Musk is a visionary," King wrote. "Almost single-handedly, he's changed the way Americans think about automobiles. I have a Tesla and love it. That said, he's been a terrible fit for Twitter. He appears to be making it up as he goes along."
"Suggestions are welcome Mr. [King]," Musk responded, using a crown emoji in place of King's last name.
Another user wrote in the thread that Musk should invite King to X's headquarters in San Francisco, California, to "have a face-to-face conversation," a tweet to which the CEO simply replied: "He is invited!"
Musk has commented on a number of King's X posts regarding himself and X as a whole. A few days after the CEO initially took over X, the author wrote: "I think I liked Twitter better in the pre-Musk days. Less controversy, more fun."
The business owner responded playfully with a ghost emoji. "I'm still a fan of you [to be honest]," Musk said in a follow-up post. King reportedly did not respond, and the billionaire later deleted the comment.
In November 2022, Musk reiterated his admiration for King, when he said in an X post that the writer is "one of most creative people on Earth. While I may not agree with everything he says, I do actually want to hear it."
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