Watch: CNN Crew Laughs Off-Screen As Host Shows Clip Rolls of Vivek Ramaswamy Prepping for Debate by Playing Tennis

CNN continues to struggle to make its case that it is a serious news network that presents unbiased reporting.

The latest faux pas occurred on Tuesday when hosts laughed as a video clip of GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy played in the background.

Apparently wanting to emphasize how his youth and fitness stand in stark contrast to many of America’s leaders in government, Ramaswamy posted a video of him playing tennis, shirtless, on the eve of the first official presidential debate.

CNN staff made light of the up-and-coming candidate.

Host Kate Bolduan began mocking Vivek saying, “We know it’s very important to be ready when hitting the stage; let’s show [Ramaswamy’s] form of debate prep that he was at least saying yesterday.”

CNN showed the video clip that Ramaswamy captioned, “That’s three hours of debate prep.”

Hosts and staffers off-stage chuckled.

“Yeah, uh–” Political commentator Bakari Sellers said as CNN staff continued to laugh. “I’m not to, uh, uh, there’s nothing about that that excites me.”

Watch:

CNN

The Daily Caller reported that “Sellers’ response prompted further laughter off-screen, sparking more laughter from Bolduan.

Sellers went on to say that Ramaswamy was “the biggest clown in the circus” and lacks “political depth.”

CNN seemed to brush off to the negative feedback about the on-air laughter by saying: “We never intended for you to hear that laughter.”

The excuse has not set well with many conservatives and independents — particularly since Vivek also shared serious remarks concerning American democracy.

Some argue that the timing of the laughter from CNN’s set might reflect an inherent bias.

Undoubtedly, this incident will be cataloged as yet another example of media missteps in a time where clarity, precision and objective analysis are desperately sought by a public increasingly skeptical of their news sources.

Ramaswamy picked up several endorsements in the last week, including Iowa Treasurer Roby Smith. With Trump choosing not to share in the debates, Vivek will have a prominent No. 2 position on the debate stage Wednesday evening.

The Daily Beast noted that CNNs Bakari Sellers criticized Trump for attempting to “counterprogram” the debate by streaming a pre-taped interview with Tucker Carlson on a platform that is unknown at this time.