What Happened at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort?

By Anna Duncan

On February 4, 2021, the Scottsdale Plaza Resort in Arizona made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The luxury resort was hosting a conference for an organization called the “American Priority” (AMP), which is known for its support of former President Donald Trump.

During this conference, a disturbing video was played that depicted a fake version of Trump violently attacking and killing various media outlets and political opponents. The video also showed CNN’s logo superimposed on a person’s face as they were being attacked.

This video sparked outrage from both sides of the political spectrum, with many condemning it as dangerous and promoting violence against journalists and political opponents. AMP initially defended playing the video, stating that it was meant to be satirical and was not meant to be taken seriously. However, they later issued an apology and claimed that they did not endorse or condone violence in any form.

The Scottsdale Plaza Resort also faced backlash for allowing this video to be played at their venue. Many people took to social media to call for a boycott of the resort, with some even canceling their reservations. The resort issued a statement denouncing violence and stating that they did not condone or agree with the content of the video.

Despite these apologies, the damage had already been done. The incident sparked a conversation about free speech versus hate speech and how much responsibility venues have in monitoring the content of events they host.

In conclusion, what happened at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort was a disturbing incident that sparked controversy and outrage across the country. While AMP claimed that the video was meant to be satirical, it ultimately crossed a line by depicting violence against journalists and political opponents. The resort faced backlash for allowing this content to be shown at their venue, highlighting larger conversations about free speech and responsibility in event hosting.