Let’s get straight to the point: what happened to Sara Gilson and Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey is tragic and shocking, yet the media’s coverage is dripping with sensationalism and hypocrisy. While outlets like CNN and MSNBC race to report the gruesome details, they conveniently gloss over one glaring fact: if this were a narrative shift involving a right-wing extremist, we’d likely see a different tone entirely. Instead, they pivot to exploit the emotional weight of this story while sidestepping any accountability for the societal failings that may have contributed to such a horrific act.

Gilson’s estranged husband claimed to be a “pedophile” in his final messages, yet you won’t hear the mainstream media connect the dots on mental health crises or the impact of toxic relationships. Instead, they shove this shocking crime into the clickbait machine, giving audiences just enough horror to keep them glued to their screens but withholding any substantive analysis. It’s almost as if they prefer the chaos over a constructive discussion on solutions.

Of course, Fox News isn’t off the hook either. When it comes to relationship-related tragedies, they often focus on the “relationship dynamics” without critically examining the radical ideologies that could lead to such extreme outcomes. They busy themselves with outrage but forget that these tragedies, at their core, stem from deep societal issues—issues that require more than surface-level outrage and sensational headlines.

Both sides are playing a game, one that exploits tragedy for ratings, drawing attention away from the real conversations we desperately need to have. In the end, while we mourn Sara and Shawn, we should demand better from those who shape the narratives that fill our feeds.