These days a 'public outcry' really means 'a media cry.' They always do this, say things like 'there has been backlash from the public over..' or 'the public outcry' or 'public opinion' 'public pressure' etc, and they always mean the people in their social and professional circles. There is an actual real public outcry over the elite pedophilia child trafficking ring, but they ignore it because really they don't think anyone else matters.