Shortly after President Barack Obama arrived on the stage for the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the band began to play the National Anthem.
First Lady Michelle Obama was seen singing every word as the band played. Everyone on stage including CBS News correspondent Major Garrett, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest and President Barack Obama proudly held their hand over their heart as the anthem played.
Then CNN cameras panned the crowd, showing dinner attendees with their hand over their heart — except for one woman who was buried in her cell phone.
Social media reacted with disgust:
Woman texting during National Anthem: Ugly sign of the times. Never excusable. #WHCD2015
— Angie Goff (@OhMyGOFF) April 26, 2015
Need to tweet this again – becuz words fail texting during the national anthem! #WHCD2015 #NerdProm #WHCD #whoisshe pic.twitter.com/LVze0LcP7u
— DangerGirl (@DangerGirl6) April 26, 2015
@BenHardicre check out #womantexting during National Anthem!!
— Jeff K (@jeff_kitchen) April 26, 2015
At #whcd disgusting disrespect for flag and anthem pic.twitter.com/cjCOVFyXYu
— Grant Cardone (@GrantCardone) April 26, 2015
Get off your damn phone during Natl Anthem, you’re not that important. https://t.co/3DV4CCt8yP h/t @heatherlsmith #WHCD2015 #NerdProm
— demonsheep (@demonsheep) April 26, 2015
What staffer was that on the cell phone while the National Anthem was playing?? Answer: A girl that will no longer be a staffer #whcd
— Quentin (@AvenueSwank) April 26, 2015
so who was dat Twitting/texting @ White House Correspondents'' Dinner while Playing anthem??? @CNN #WHCD
— FCarvajal (@CarvajalF) April 26, 2015
UPDATE: The woman on her phone was Washington Post writer Helena Andrews. She responded on Twitter that she “was taking notes. On my phone. Because it’s 2015.”
Apparently someone saw me on TV "texting" during the dinner. FTR I was taking notes. On my phone. Because it's 2015. #WHCD
— Helena Andrews (@helena_andrews) April 26, 2015