Sadly, I know this from personal experience. I was injured in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom & medevaced to Walter Reed.
During my recovery, Katie Couric reached out to me to be on her show about PTSD.
She flew me to NYC and they gave me a fictitious story about my wartime experiences then tried to convince me to recite her pack of lies on the air. My response was something close to “The Fuq I Will. Not happening.” I ended up walking away from her show.
They shot footage of me walking in Central Park. I was told to slump, not smile, look at the ground, & the kicker
They asked if I would try to cry. They called it “good optics”.
Back inside the studio, they asked me to read their narrative as a voice over for the show.
But it wasn’t my story! She invented one w/ me being drenched in my best friend’s blood as she died in my arms on the battlefield. I threw a BS flag on the play, walked out of the studio, & flew home.
Shame on you, Katie Couric. Using Wounded Warriors for your personal gain
To be clear Katie did not personally hand me the fake story about my friend dying in my arms, it was her producers. But they pressured me with how much more Katie would like it with that angle.
Thanks to the supportive people who recognize the damage #KatieCouric did to me, all wounded warriors & trust in media
For the doubters, here's an email I sent to @JimHansonDC as this happened & a pic of them shooting B roll in Central Park