An accomplished CNN presenter became flustered after his interviewee, an author who has accused Donald Trump of sexual assault, made a disturbing claim on television.
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was interviewing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll, 75, a matter of days after she made accusations of sexual assault against the US President. Carroll alleges that Trump raped her in a New York department store in the 1990s.
Cooper, visibly uncomfortable, quickly called for an ad break following her strange claims.
When Cooper questioned Carroll about the alleged incident, she said: "I was not thrown on the ground and ravished.
"The word rape carries so many sexual connotations... this was not sexual."
Cooper, taken aback, said: "I think most people think of rape as a violent assault. It is not sexy."
"I think most people see rape as being sexy," the 75-year-old argued.
"They think of the fantasies."
Cooper started stumbling over his words, calling for an ad break and cutting the interview short.
"You're fascinating to talk to," Carroll told Cooper, staring at him.
CNN uploaded an edited version of the interview to their YouTube channel on Tuesday.
Trump has denied Carroll's claims.
"I'll say it with great respect... it never happened," he said during an interview at the White House.
"She's not my type."
Newshub.
