CNN’s Larry Madowo has once again found himself at the center of a racist storm — this time, triggered by his daring coverage of a tense White House encounter between former U.S. President Donald Trump and South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa.
In a shocking twist that’s sent ripples across global media, the Kenyan-born journalist revealed he’s been bombarded with hate mail — including one disturbing message urging him to take his own life. The backlash erupted just days after Madowo publicly recounted previous racist abuse following his investigative piece.
“I double-checked the so-called ‘white genocide’ claims on CNN — and then the racist hate mail started pouring in,” Madowo said.
The most chilling email, according to Madowo, was sent from a newly created address, seemingly crafted for the sole purpose of hurling slurs and threats. The anonymous sender, dripping with racial venom, used the n-word repeatedly, wished terminal illness upon the journalist, and ominously warned, “It’s going to be a long four years.”
With brutal honesty and signature wit, Madowo posted a screenshot of the message.
“Many big words when he could’ve just called me the n-word and moved on,” he wrote.
The fury stems from Madowo’s bold fact-checking of Trump’s controversial remarks suggesting White South Africans are victims of a so-called genocide — a narrative long dismissed by international human rights watchdogs.
Madowo’s report pulled no punches: he broke down official crime statistics, exposing the myth with hard numbers. Between April and December 2024, South Africa recorded nearly 20,000 murders. Only 36 of those were farm killings — a figure that amounts to just 0.2% of the national total. Of the 36, only seven victims were farmers — and contrary to the popular narrative, many people working on these farms are Black South Africans.
Trump’s comments, made during a high-stakes meeting with Ramaphosa, were eerily reminiscent of his ambush-style approach during a prior meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Madowo’s in-depth analysis spotlighted not only the inaccuracies but the dangerous racial undertones fueling such claims.
Back home in Kenya, many have rallied behind Madowo — praising him for standing firm in the face of hate. But the threats serve as a grim reminder of the cost of truth-telling in a deeply polarized world.
As Madowo continues to expose uncomfortable truths on the global stage, the question remains: how far will racists go to silence a journalist unafraid to speak truth to power?
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