CNN Edits On‑Air Promo After N‑Word Flap
ALLDAY PROJECT poses for a promotional photo. Tarzzan, second from the left and shown sagging his pants, is facing renewed scrutiny as CNN’s K‑Everything introduces the group to American audiences. The image appears to have been stripped from the on‑air version after questions were raised about a viral racial‑slur video.
CNN Edits On‑Air Promo After N‑Word Flap
By Rob Redding
Editor & Publisher
NEW YORK, April 8, 2026, 11 p.m. — CNN today quietly updated the on‑air promo and removed the image of a K‑Pop artist that showed him sagging his pants in a segment tied to an N‑word controversy.
CNN initially did not directly respond to a request for comment from Redding News Review about Lee Chae‑won, 23, also known as Tarzzan and a member of AllDay Project, regarding its promotional video, but after the inquiry, CNN updated the on‑air promo and removed the image.
The controversy began after Tarzzan appeared to use the n‑word during a rap, a moment that differed from the lyrics of Playboi Carti’s “LIKE WEEZY.” He has also been scrutinized for his styling, including grills, sagging pants and cornrows. The moment drew attention online and later from CNN, which promoted its coverage with a spot that included the sagging‑pants shot.
Despite altering the broadcast version, CNN has left the original, unedited video online on its official YouTube channel, where the sagging‑pants shot remains visible.
The network has not explained the discrepancy between the corrected on‑air promo and the unchanged digital version. The silent edit follows Redding News Review’s outreach asking CNN to address the visual framing of the segment coming one day after our exclusive.