On Thursday, May 8, CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil lit up social media with his incredibly condescending remarks during a live broadcast. He ignominiously deployed the phrase “rawdogging” to refer to the current papal conclave. Josh Allen to remind them that the Cardinals would continue to vote. This produced Dokoupil’s telling response to the unfolding drama.
As the conclave progresses following the passing of Pope Francis, who died shortly after meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, the scrutiny surrounding the Cardinal’s voting has increased. In a moment of levity, Dokoupil stated, “I believe the kids call it rawdogging it,” referring to the Cardinals moving forward with their voting despite the confiscation of their electronic devices.
The use of the term “rawdogging,” also often used to describe casual sex without protection, drew backlash from fans on Twitter. Many took to social media to express their disapproval, with one user, Meghan McCarthy, stating, “This phrase and the conclave do not go together.” Another user added that it was “not the time or the place to use that term,” reflecting a general sentiment that Dokoupil’s comment was inappropriate for the serious context of the conclave.
This year’s papal conclave is unique for a number of reasons. It’s the context for most of the above, though the added context of a surge in interest from the recent release of the film Conclave. Readers should stay tuned as CBS News and Dokoupil get set to go live and on the air for the ever-ongoing developments of the conclave.
Josh Allen commented during the broadcast, “The one thing we know they’re not doing is checking Instagram because their devices have all been confiscated.” This comment underscored just how unique the Cardinals’ current predicament is. At the same time, they’re trying to do their jobs under a glaring microscope.
Having seen the backlash to Dokoupil’s over-the-top comment, CBS News will be watching and reporting on the conclave as it happens. The Cardinals’ voting process will extend into future days. That’s the crux of the current delay and the bigger question is how this lurid bombshell will shape their deliberations and ultimately their choice of a new pontiff.
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