PBS Admits to Past Fireworks Coverage for A Capitol Fourth

PBS on Monday was criticized for enhancing its fireworks coverage during the annual A Capitol Fourth special.

In an effort to deliver the “best possible television viewing experience,” producers of the Fourth of July concert program included footage from previous years’ fireworks displays, since this year’s show was affected by inclement weather in the Washington, D.C.

The pre-taped portions drew outcries from social media, including one viewer who referred to the manufactured broadcast as “the Milli Vanilli of fireworks.” A fellow Twitter commentator joked that “only in D.C. could a PBS show become a scandal.”

In response, PBS released the following statements:

We showed a combination of the best fireworks from this year and previous years. It was the patriotic thing to do. #July4thPBS

— A Capitol Fourth (@July4thPBS) July 5, 2016

pic.twitter.com/qzrykdW9Cy

— A Capitol Fourth (@July4thPBS) July 5, 2016

The 36th annual Capitol Fourth broadcast included performances by Motown legend Smokey Robinson, country star Kenny Loggins, Younger‘s Sutton Foster and The Voice Season 10 winner Alisan Porter, among others.