Geraldo Rivera Mistakes Protester for Russell Simmons

May 4, 2015 – Two cable news reporters, Geraldo Rivera for Fox and Brian Todd for CNN, were determined to find Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons at a Baltimore protest march. Ironically, they both found former Def Jam record executive Kevin Liles instead. Within minutes of each other, both intrepid reporters accosted Baltimore native Liles as he marched alongside New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, insisting he was Simmons.

“Mr. Simmons, Russell, the hip hop mogul, why are you here?” Rivera asked Liles. Liles correctly who quickly laughs off the situation, “I’m sorry, you look just like him.”

Fool me once!

But CNN’s Brian Todd would not be so easily discouraged. When corrected Todd replied, “OK, you bear a striking resemblance to Russell Simmons. You tell me you’re not him. You tell me you’re Kevin Liles. I’m not sure I believe you. We think this is Russell Simmons, Wolf.”

Watch the uncomfortable interactions here courtesy of Mediate.

Apparently Todd was eventually convinced sending out this tweet.

To my new friend @kevinliles1, really sorry for the confusion!

— Brian Todd (@BrianToddCNN) April 30, 2015

So were these cases of mistaken identity Funny or Offensive? Vote now!