In an interview with BuzzFeed, former Des Moines Register reporter Aaron Calvin — the one who dug up Carson King’s tweets from eight years earlier in a story about King donating a million dollars to a children’s hospital — played the victim and blamed “right-wing ideologues” for his downfall.

He’s already tweeted to express thanks for all the support he’s received, but he’s still going, and he’s released a statement in which he states that, yes, his editors approved the piece before it ran, and also that he’s a straight white male so he knows he has privilege on his side that he wouldn’t were he a person of color.

ABC quoted a statement I sent them where I reiterate some of the things I’ve been saying. https://t.co/DSSk6UnPpg pic.twitter.com/fEdK9lfaqE — Aᴀʀᴏɴ Cᴀʟᴠɪɴ (@aaronpcalvin) October 1, 2019

ABC News picked up the statement, which reads in part:

Calvin said he apologizes for his past tweets. “Many of them are inappropriate and I wouldn’t have published them today, though I contend that most were simply unfortunate, removed from context or the result of an attempt at ironic humor and by no means a meaningful reflection of my values.” Although he does not think it is fair that he was “publicly pushed” from his job, “I’m still a straight white man who has enjoyed a great deal of privilege in my life due to this fact of my birth and what I have suffered through this ordeal does not compare to what journalists who are women, LGBTQ, or people of color suffer on a much more routine basis,” he said.

He still sounds like a garbage person, though.

Look, you shouldn't have lost your job, but there are 2 points of dishonesty here.

1. It's a total coincidence that you contacted him mere hours after Anheuser-Busch decided to cut ties even though you didn't speak to them?

2. Why do an offensive keyword search to begin with? — neontaster (@neontaster) October 1, 2019

It's a routine background check to run racial slur searches on people's Twitter accounts? If you're doing a human interest story about a cancer patient, do you do the same sort of background check? — neontaster (@neontaster) October 1, 2019

Maybe Aaron could use his newfound fame to raise money for charity or something. I dunno. Something worthwhile. — Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) October 1, 2019

Pathetic — Andy Lancaster (@andylancaster) October 1, 2019

The lack of self awareness here is absolutely astounding — Erica Kaiser (@EricaKaiser_) October 1, 2019

He's learned jack and shit from this entire ordeal. And no doubt he'll land on his feet with an offer of a sweet gig at a sympathetic progressive rag to continue his woke white privilege lifestyle. — Giuseppe Franco (@viperstrike74) October 1, 2019

If one more person apologizes for being a “straight, white man”, I going to pour myself a drink. — greyshepherd (@greyshepherd2) October 1, 2019

Haha even got in a little virtue signaling there at the end. — AGR (@SpudCouch1) October 1, 2019

That last paragraph is just insufferable. While he did take the fall for the decisions of his editors, he shows no repentance for his own culpability. Curious how his entire tweet history prior to this week has been scrubbed. Too bad the internet never forgets. — Amrond Thardell (@amrond99) October 1, 2019

In some ways I understand your position. But the anger directed at you is a world you, and other like minded people, helped create and I think you’re not willing to acknowledge that aspect. — jimbojones (@jimbojones2222) October 1, 2019

Sorry bud, we're just playing by your rules. #CancelCulture — Eric Phillips ?? (@EricPhillipsUSA) October 1, 2019

Cancel culture is BS. You did learn the hard way that the golden rule is a good thing to live by. — MoxDonalds (@moxdonalds) October 1, 2019

How is it possible to be this dense? Just move on — Matt (@PucksWild) October 1, 2019

Just keep digging…. Just keep digging…. Just keep digging…. pic.twitter.com/GP4OAMzBGM — Andrew Follett (@AndrewCFollett) October 1, 2019

Sad Aaron still doesn’t get it. — @charliefromnyc ? (@CharliefromNYC) October 1, 2019

So I guess we can agree you've learned nothing from this. Good talk. — Andrew S. (@shoutingboy) October 1, 2019

Bro, so much cognitive dissonance — Aaron et politica ingenio ?? (@peekaso) October 1, 2019

Your old tweets were by no means a reflection of your values… How interesting. https://t.co/N98QkBAUwi — Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) October 1, 2019

Sure are a lot of news outlets (Buzzfeed, ABC..) giving Calvin the benefit of the doubt that they don’t grant anyone else with past tweets. https://t.co/cCfcCm28Wt — Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) October 1, 2019

So Carson’s tweets were “racist” but yours were just “inappropriate” or “taken out of context” or “ironic humor” – got it. That doesn’t sound like unbiased “journalism”. Just saying. — Kim Babberl (@KimBabberl) October 1, 2019

It is funny that you chose, within your quote, to still frame one set of tweets with the pejorative term "racist", but presented your own as attempts at jokes. Maybe starting there will help illustrate where you ran afoul of your own standard applied. — Peter Sjostedt SDoH MD (@PeterSjostedt1) October 1, 2019

What you did, is destroy someone else's character before you took the time to look into your own past. If you do stupid things as a teenager as we all do, you're allowed to show you've changed, what you did was get on a high horse and the fall is magnificent — charles bailey (@CanadianGL1979) October 1, 2019

So…the virtue signalling at the end…are you trying to rally progressive forces to your cause? Is it a cry for allies to come to your rescue? These people you're seeking help from…they're the ones that created this culture you're now ensnared in. — Dragris (@DragHris) October 1, 2019

Instead or pretending cancel culture doesn't exist, it clearly got you cancelled at least for the time being, admit that it exists and reflect on your role in it. — Dragris (@DragHris) October 1, 2019

Always the victim. — Sir George Bearison (@GeorgeBearison) October 1, 2019

Could you please delete your account again sir? — Bob Jasper (@viagrabob69) October 1, 2019

Why can't you just be honest about why you searched his profile for racist keywords? Just be honest for one tiny minute and tell us the truth. — Dan (@TractorLaw) October 1, 2019

You dug yourself this hole, you set the rules and lost, I know it's probably a bit too much to ask, but you should really be reflecting and thinking on if this is how you want to continue, dude. You lost at your own game. — Goblin Man (@GoblinShell) October 1, 2019

White guy shoots himself in foot, blames society. — Henry Myers (@HenryMyers7) October 1, 2019

You’re not a victim. It’s getting really old that you seem to be relishing in your fake victimhood. Stop tweeting and take a break since you clearly can’t handle it. — HammerDon’tHurt’Em (@KUnewie) October 1, 2019

Just apologize for being a hypocrite. Is that so hard to do? — Jules Dannon (@DannonJules) October 1, 2019

Still unapologetic still self loathing. Classic millennial always the victim never to take responsibility. Blame anyone but yourself. — derrin. (@TXRoastMaster_) October 1, 2019

Udemy has great courses on coding. — Strong ETH (@EthereumWiki) October 1, 2019

Wake me up when Harvard re-admits @KyleKashuv — Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) October 1, 2019

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