미 언론 '원주민 모욕' 논란 미 고교생 비판 보도했다 합의

지난해 원주민 시위대 노려보는 영상 보도돼 비난세례…CNN 이어 WP도 합의

추가 영상 공개돼 실제 정황 드러나…"괴롭힘당했다"며 WP 상대 3천억원대 소송

지난해 워싱턴DC에서 서로를 노려보는 닉 샌드먼(좌)와 네이선 필립스

[연합뉴스 자료사진. 재판매 및 DB 금지]

(서울=연합뉴스) 이영섭 기자 = 지난해 미국 원주민 인권활동가를 모욕하는 듯한 동영상이 온라인에 확산돼 곤욕을 치른 고교생이 워싱턴포스트(WP)를 상대로 2억5천만달러(한화 약 3천10억원) 규모의 손해배상 소송을 제기했다가 합의했다.

WP는 켄터키주 코빙턴 가톨릭고교 재학생인 닉 샌드먼(17)이 자사를 상대로 제기한 명예훼손 소송과 관련해 24일(현지시간) 합의에 도달했다고 밝혔다.

합의의 구체적 내용은 공개되지 않았다.

앞서 이 고교생과 가족은 다른 동영상에서 실제 상황이 알려진 것과 달랐다는 게 확인되자 악의적 보도로 피해를 입었다며 WP와 CNN방송, 뉴욕타임스 등을 상대로 소송을 제기했다.

샌드먼은 이날 트위터로 WP와의 합의 사실을 알리고 "나를 계속 지지해준 수백만 명과 가족에게 감사하다"며 "아직 할 일이 남았다"고 말했다.

WP와 합의 소식을 밝히는 샌드먼의 트윗

[닉 샌드먼 트위터 갈무리. 재판매 및 DB 금지]

논란이 된 영상에는 샌드먼과 학우들이 지난해 1월 워싱턴DC에서 열린 낙태 반대 집회에 참여했다가 같은 곳에서 시위하던 원주민들과 조우한 순간이 담겼다.

영상을 보면 샌드먼은 도널드 트럼프 미 대통령의 '미국을 다시 위대하게'(Make America Great Again·MAGA) 슬로건이 적힌 빨간 모자를 쓰고 웃음을 띤 채 원주민 인권활동가이자 베트남전 참전용사인 네이선 필립스와 30㎝ 정도 거리에서 2분 넘게 서로 응시한다.

이들 주변으로는 샌드먼의 학우들이 둘러서서 웃고 떠들며 "(국경)장벽을 건설하라"고 외친다.

해당 영상이 소셜미디어를 통해 급속히 퍼지고 여러 언론이 이를 보도하면서 샌드먼과 학생들이 원주민을 모욕했다는 비난 여론이 들끓었다.

하지만 이후에 당시 상황을 담은 다른 영상이 공개되며 생각보다 복잡한 사건의 전말이 드러났다.

새 영상에는 자신들이 흑인 히브리인 후손이라고 주장하는 무리가 원주민들을 향해 '잘못된 신을 섬겨서 자신들의 땅을 빼앗겼다'고 조롱하고, 샌드먼 등 학생들에게도 '크래커'(cracker·가난하고 배운 것 없는 백인)라고 외치는 모습이 담겼다.

이에 학생들이 웃통을 벗고 연호하며 이들과 대치하자 인권 운동가인 필립스가 북을 두드리며 끼어들었다. 학생들은 처음엔 북소리에 흥겹게 반응하는 듯하다가 결국 "(원주민) 보호구역으로 돌아가라" 등을 외쳤다.

영상이 확산한 당시 샌드먼은 자신은 상황을 진정시키기 위해 가만히 있었을 뿐이라며 논란에 반박했으며 코빙턴 가톨릭 교구가 사립 조사기관을 고용해 진행한 자체 조사에서도 이와 비슷한 결론이 나왔다.

샌드먼은 WP가 트럼프 대통령에 대한 부정적 보도를 확대하기 위해 자신을 희생양 삼았으며 언론 보도로 "목표물이 돼 괴롭힘을 당했다"고 주장했다.

WP를 상대로 한 소송액 2억5천만달러는 아마존 최고경영자(CEO) 제프 베이조스가 2013년 WP를 인수할 때 지불한 비용과 맞먹는 금액이다.

이 와중에 트럼프 대통령은 트위터로 "그들을 무찔러라, 닉. 가짜뉴스!"라며 샌드먼을 응원해 논란을 부채질하기도 했다.

샌드먼은 앞서 지난 1월 CNN과도 합의했다.

younglee@yna.co.kr

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