In the midst of a grim Monday, as the nation reeled from the tragic events in Las Vegas—the deadliest shooting in U.S. history—NPR inadvertently shared the most adorable post on its Facebook page. The update read: “Lila receives a new toy: She smiles, inspects it for 20 seconds, then tosses it aside. Lila is given a hug: She momentarily accepts, then wiggles to be put down. Lila spots three cats 30 feet away: Instantly overwhelmed with ecstatic joy that continues even after the cats escape.”
This delightful moment captured the hearts of many, prompting a wave of support across social media. Even after NPR deleted the post and issued an apology for the mix-up (it was meant for a personal account), users continued to share screenshots of Lila’s antics. Everyone was in need of a smile that day, and Lila provided it.
The accidental post sparked curiosity: Who exactly is Lila? Will she ever get a cat? Or could Lila be a cat herself? The internet was eager for answers. In fact, NPR followers began requesting regular updates on this charming little girl, with some even offering donations in exchange for more stories about her.
As it turns out, Lila is the one-year-old daughter of NPR editor Ben Thompson, who mistakenly posted about her instead of on his personal account. He took responsibility for the slip-up, stating, “We don’t typically delete posts, so I tried to handle it transparently. My role is to promote our great work, and I completely failed at that last night.” We hope he doesn’t feel too guilty, as he inadvertently gave us a much-needed dose of joy on an otherwise bleak day.
As one Lila enthusiast put it: “We all love her!” When asked if Lila might become a regular feature on NPR’s social media, Thompson responded, “If people keep pledging to NPR and it doesn’t detract from our journalists’ valuable work, we’ll see.” So, make those NPR pledges—it’s what Lila would want!
For more insights on home insemination and related topics, check out this other blog post about privacy policies.
Summary: In a heartwarming blunder, NPR shared an adorable post about Lila, the one-year-old daughter of an editor, during a challenging day in the news. The accidental post brought smiles to many and sparked a delightful online conversation about Lila. As requests for more updates pour in, NPR is considering making Lila a regular feature—provided it doesn’t interfere with their journalism.