A private, disparaging comment by ABC anchor Ben Strickland about conservative figure Karoline Leavitt — exposed in a viral post — has led to his suspension, ignited public outrage, and plunged ABC News into crisis, fueling deeper distrust in mainstream media.

In a stunning turn of events that has thrown one of the nation’s largest news organizations into damage-control mode, ABC News anchor Ben Strickland has been suspended indefinitely following the explosive release of a private comment he allegedly made about former Trump campaign spokesperson and GOP rising star Karoline Leavitt.

The controversy erupted late Tuesday night, August 6th, when Leavitt posted a screenshot to X (formerly Twitter), exposing what she called “a disgusting and unprofessional jab from a so-called journalist.”

The comment in question, originally posted in a since-deleted private message on Threads, appeared to mock Leavitt’s background and political affiliations. “She’s just another blonde mouthpiece parroting MAGA talking points.

Zero substance. Zero credibility,” Strickland allegedly wrote in a private group chat with fellow media colleagues.

Though Strickland deleted the message within minutes, a screenshot had already been captured and circulated — first privately, then publicly when Leavitt published it with the caption: “This is what the media really thinks about conservative women. They don’t even hide it anymore.”

The post instantly went viral, racking up over 4 million views within the first 12 hours and drawing widespread condemnation from both conservative commentators and media watchdogs.

Leavitt, known for her sharp-tongued media critiques and rising influence among Gen Z conservatives, appeared on Fox News the following morning to discuss the incident.

“This isn’t just about me,” she said. “It’s about a culture of elitism in mainstream media that looks down on half the country. These are the same people who lecture America about respect and inclusion.”

ABC News was quick to respond. By Wednesday morning, a spokesperson issued a brief statement confirming that Strickland had been “placed on temporary leave pending an internal review.”

The network added: “We take concerns of professionalism and impartiality seriously. We are committed to upholding the highest journalistic standards across all platforms.”

Behind closed doors, however, sources inside the network described a “state of panic.” Strickland, 42, has been a prominent figure on ABC’s flagship evening news broadcast for over six years and was being groomed for a potential primetime slot.

“This couldn’t have come at a worse time,” said one senior producer, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The election season is heating up, and now we’re dealing with a PR nightmare.”

Strickland has not issued a public statement since the suspension, but a source close to him claims he is “devastated” by the fallout and maintains that the comment was “taken out of context” from a private conversation among friends. “He was venting,” the source said. “It wasn’t meant to be public, and he regrets it.”

Critics, however, say that’s no excuse. “The fact that he thought this was acceptable even in private says everything,” conservative commentator Candace Owens tweeted. “Journalists like this are why trust in media is at an all-time low.”

Karoline Leavitt, meanwhile, is using the moment to spotlight what she calls the “mainstream media’s growing hostility” toward conservative voices.

A former assistant press secretary under President Trump, Leavitt has quickly become a vocal figure in right-wing circles and is reportedly considering a congressional run in 2026.

Her social media following has ballooned in the past 24 hours, and she’s already launched a fundraising campaign tied to the incident, calling it a “fight for fairness.”

The controversy also reignites ongoing conversations about bias in journalism — particularly when it comes to coverage of conservative figures and ideas.

Last year, a Pew Research study found that only 16% of Republicans trusted national news outlets — a number that continues to plummet with incidents like this.

As for ABC News, executives are said to be scrambling to contain the damage. Internal meetings were reportedly held Wednesday afternoon with on-air talent and producers to reinforce the company’s code of conduct. “We can’t afford another scandal,” one insider said. “This is a make-or-break year.”

Whether Strickland will return to the anchor desk remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: a single comment — shared, deleted, and screenshotted — has triggered a firestorm that shows no signs of slowing down.