ABC’s Diane Sawyer Earns First Interview With Gabrielle Giffords (Updated)

by Zara Golden | 3:13 pm, September 12th, 2011

» 15 comments

Diane Sawyer, who has earned interviews with everyone from Britney Spears and Michael Jackson to Fidel Castro and Manuel Noriega, will host Rep. Gabrielle Giffords for her first broadcast interview since January’s tragic shootings. Joined by her husband Mark Kelly, Giffords will share her “story of strength, hope, and astounding resilience,” a story that has “captivated the nation over the past eight months.” The special will air on November 14th, in conjunction with the publication of Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, a memoir by Congresswoman Giffords and Mark Kelly.

Mark Giffords similarly gave his first interview after the shooting to Diane Sawyer.

Per the ABC News press release:

In a broadcast exclusive, Diane Sawyer chronicles Giffords’ courageous, step-by-step journey to recover from her near fatal injury, with her husband by her side. The broadcast will also document the couple’s courtship, marriage, and extraordinary careers in public service. The Diane Sawyer special will air on Monday, November 14 at 10:00 PM ET on the ABC Television Network.

UPDATE: As it turns out, the ABC News press release overstates the possibility of Giffords appearing on camera. According to her spokesman, Mark Kimble, “Congresswoman Giffords has not decided if she’s going to conduct an on-camera interview.” Sawyer plans to speak with Giffords and Kelly off-camera, and then to sit down on-camera, once again, with Kelly. Giffords will make the final decision as to whether she’ll join him on-camera “at some point, based on her progress” in rehabilitation.

(h/t Tuscon Sentinel)

SECOND UPDATE: An ABC Network spokesman points out that the original release called the event a “broadcast exclusive” and made no explicit promise of an on-camera interview. He clarifies:

“Both Rep. Giffords and Mr. Kelly will be participating in the special, but given the nature of her injuries and recovery, the congresswoman’s exact participation can only be known as we move forward. The special will fully and respectfully document Giffords’ remarkable road to recovery with her husband by her side and will include dozens of hours of video tape that document that journey.”

abc, Diane Sawyer, Gabrielle Giffords, Mark Kelly

TruDat

Diane Sawyer’s so old they have to film her through a flour sack.
DietCokeHead

Hey now, be nice to Diane. A woman of her age surely has an amazing amount of wisdom she could share with the rest of us. For instance, what was it like to go to homecoming with Jesus?
Ardiva

For pete’s sake, you both are dumber than a rock.
Anonymous

Glad to see Gabrielle Giffords is doing so well.I wish her and her family peace. They have had enough vilolence. I feel she is a strong person and will do well in the future.
Anonymous

As it turns out, the ABC News press release overstates the possibility of Giffords appearing on camera. According to her spokesman, Mark Kimble, “Congresswoman Giffords has not decided if she’s going to conduct an on-camera interview.”

So ABC lied again, eh?

No surprise.
Anonymous

WHY PEOPLE ARE SO DISREPECTFUL IS BEYOND ME.
Anonymous

Couldn’t she get Casey Anthony? Sawyer needs a ratings boost.
Anonymous

I remember watching Gabbie Giffords prior to the shooting incident and I was stunned that this incident happened. Gabbie was a Republican leaning Democrat and I believe an asset to the Congress – at least in spirit. I don’t know all of her policy positions, but she was a delight on the screen when I saw her on Fox, just days or a day before (not sure when she went on Fox – I just know it was not far from the incident). I pray for her recovery process.
Anonymous

Don’t talk about this when you don’t practice it yourself.
DietCokeHead

She’s a hateful piece of shit. Good enough?
Anonymous

You need to grow up!
Anonymous

WCINWI wrote: “Republican leaning Democrat and I believe an asset to the Congress – at least in spirit.”…….Is this why you have some compassion for her. Why even mention this? Put politics aside for once and get a brain.
Anonymous

DIETCOKEHEAD wrote: She’s a hateful piece of shit. Good enough? …………..Your words speak for themself. Your true colors show yet again.
Anonymous

Whether or not Giffords actually appears on video is beside the point. She went through a horrible tragedy and lived. I’m sure that her injuries caused mucho damage to her speech, her way of thinking, all kinds of things. She is not the same woman she was before the shooting. It is not her fault by any means, but she may not want to be on TV where her constitutency back in Arizona can see her stumble through an interview. She is lucky to alive, and is recieving extra ordinary rehab treatment, but it takes time to come back from a brain injury. Even then she will not be the same as she was before.
Anthony

This was truly a story of love, hope, and courage. That is why it is such a shame that Diane Sawyer ruined it for my wife and I when she had to politicize it with comments about the tea party and Palin.