MSNBC host offers tearful apology to Romneys
Updated 1:49 p.m., 1/4/2014
(CNN) - MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry made a tearful apology to Mitt Romney’s family on her show Saturday, after she and a panel poked fun at a photo of the former Republican presidential candidate with his wife and 21 grandchildren by zeroing in on his adopted African-American grandson.
"Whatever the intent was, the reality is that the segment proceeded in a way that was offensive, and showing the photo in that context, of that segment, was poor judgment. So without reservation or qualification, I apologize to the Romney family," said the anchor at the open of her show, "Melissa Harris-Perry."
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Harris-Perry became emotional as she went on to apologize to all "other families formed through transracial adoption," saying, "I am deeply sorry that we suggested that interracial families are in any way funny or deserving of ridicule."
She highlighted her own interracial background, as the daughter of an African-American man and a white Mormon woman. But, she said, families are always "off limits," and the Romneys' grandchildren should never have been a topic of discussion.
"Adults who enter into public life implicitly consent to having less privacy. But their families, and especially their children, should not be treated callously or thoughtlessly. My intention was not malicious, but I broke the ground rule that families are off limits, and for that I am sorry," she said.
Harris-Perry first apologized on Twitter and MSNBC's website Tuesday, offering a similar mea culpa "without reservation or qualification."
During the segment last Sunday, Harris-Perry asked a panel to come up with a caption for the Romney family photo, and two panelists made jokes about the infant standing out.
Actress Pia Glenn began singing lines from the song popularized by Sesame Street, "One of These Things Is Not Like the Others." Comedian Dean Obeidallah said the picture "really sums up the diversity of the Republican Party."
Obeidallah appears frequently on CNN and writes a regular opinion column for CNN.com.
Harris-Perry described the baby as "gorgeous" and joked that in 2040 he would marry North West, the daughter of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
"Can you imagine Mitt Romney and Kanye West as in-laws?" she said, to laughs.
Criticism was swift across social media, with prominent Republicans from Sarah Palin to former Sen. Scott Brown weighing in.
A spokeswoman for Romney told CNN he was on a family vacation this week and unavailable for comment. On Sunday, Romney will appear on “Fox News Sunday,” where he is likely to be asked about the episode.
MSNBC has been in some hot water recently after a handful of their hosts have made controversial comments. Alec Baldwin and the network parted ways in November after his homophobic outburst against photographers, and Martin Bashir resigned in December for his suggestion that Sarah Palin deserved graphic punishment for comparing U.S. foreign debt to slavery.
–CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
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If she wasn't part white, thiius wouldn't be an issue. Because we all know Blacks can say whatever they want in the media with no repercussions.
I think she should only apologize for letting her panel get away from her, her jokes weren't racist and after reading some of these comments I notice when Sara Palin and Fox& friends make there racist and insensitive comments no one gets fired, but one thing I give to Fox, they stand by what they and their views are, they don't waver like other networks at the cry of viewers that really aren't loyal patrions anyway. Pick a team CNN, MSNBC, etc.
Where was OFumble on this, or the Knockout game. He seems to get in racial events all the time, the old white ladies that got knocked out by black thugs could have been Obama's grandmother... or the Romney adoptive baby could have been one of OFumbles kids..... What a hypocritical racial divider.
So Duck man has freedom of speech, but she doesn't. The difference is liberals will agree that what she said was rude, but conservatives won't admit that the duck man isn't rude, just because he hides behind the Bible.
I had half a mind to post an "apology" on behalf of Romney with an edited family photo, but then I'd be accused of being a racist too (which I'm not). I think conservatives need to lighten up a little.
"Anonymous
She cried crocodile tears while the MSNBC band played on."
And you know this because Palin told you?
Don Imus said he was sorry and he got fired.
Paula Deen was called a racist and lost her lucative sponsers, Is Melissa Harris-Perry going to lose sponsers, she is a racist, her phony apology means nothing.
Sure, Harris-Perry is a screwed-up mulatto, but Romney's kid should be horse-whipped for bringing that turdlet into a white family.
She came across as a racist with her performance during this segment Her core values were revealed and no apology can change that.
She can take her "tearful; apology" and shove it where the sun don't shine!! Liberal POS!!
How often do we see apologies from Fox news, Hannity or Bill O'Reilly for the horrible things they say about our President and other Democrats. They seem to have free rein to do or say whatever they wish and no press uproar is heard.
Crocodile's ter
It breaks my heart to see this poor lady so obviously distraught...
She can take her "tearful; apology" and shove it where the sun don't shine!!
I am disappointed...not in what she said...but in the way she has caved in to the tea bag crowd.
I think that Melissa Hartis Perry works harder than most and Is over prepared for her show. Please consider this a small blip in a stellar career!
"reasonbyfaith
A conservative would have been fired."
I'll believe that one when I poop rainbow sherbert.
Over at MSNBC in the very recent past, they cancelled Alec Baldwin's show and the forced Martin Bashir to quit.
When was the last time ANYONE lost their job at Fox News?
I could rattle off the names, but I'll leave it at Sean Hannity and Eric Bolling
Why is Rush still spreading his filth every weekday from noon to three?
For that matter, after more than 12 years, isn't it about time that Fox stopped calling their Saturday morning business block where they tell you what stocks to buy and what investments to make (now down to 5 minutes for each 30 minute show) "The Cost of Freedom"?
When will liberals understand that the majority of conservatives are NOT racist and not any more prejudiced than anyone else. Also, that they simply believe in hard work and personal responsibility. They are NOT opposed to helping others and many give both their time and money to help others through local charities. They just do not believe that the government should force us to give to any particular cause by the point of a gun. They believe in the right to bear arms and while they fully welcome legal immigration, they do not welcome illegal immigration and giving benefits and "breaks" to illegal immigrants who have broken the law in coming here. Not every conservative is a right wing religious nut and yes, there is a fringe part on the right just as there is on the left. I find conservatives far happier people, calmer, and less likely to react angrily, start arguments, and put down others that don't agree with them although they are scared and yes, angry at what is happening to our country.
Whatever your political stripe, snarky PC or conservative Teaparty, you have to look at that beautiful Romney family photo and say "Wow! Now that's a nice big family! And those kids are the future. ". The Romneys do more than talk the talk, they walk the walk. Period. Kudos to Melissa Harris-perry to correct a mistake and apologize.
It was the best of times it was the worst of times...
If she was a white woman talking about a black politician holding his adopted white grandchild that white woman would be fired and publicly tormented. Why does this woman still have her job ??? She needs to be held accountable for her actions just like a white person would be. We are all equal and should not be dealt with in different ways just because of our color !
She is a racist and should be removed from her position. If it had been reversed (which it has), others have lost their employment. To let her continue, is saying she is held to a different standard - not fair nor right. What she said, is how she truly feels and wanted others to agree with her point of view. Shame on her….
"Yasar Moina
I will not watch the network again until she is fired."
Like you ever watched it to begin with.
Why is every other grandson in blue? Putting him in pink makes him stand out even more.