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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Why is it when a white person says something like she did it's racist, but when the very same shoe is on the other foot . . . its called 'no big deal?" It is a big deal. Blacks perpetuate racism . . . they have nothing else to sell!!!
the difference between fox and MsNBC is fox doesn't have to apologize for stupid stuff like this.
MSNBC would not forgive and would never forget if a Republican made a mistake. But when they make one, they demand everyone forgive and forget. This is the 4th "host" that has been suspended or fired at MSNBC. They all are vile, vicious, disrespecttful, immoral slugs. Typical Progressives.
Take MSNBC off the Air!
To avoid making stupid, bigoted comments in the future, take those tampons you wore as earrings and plug up your big, nasty mouth instead.
She and her cohorts are just sick people and disgusting
Anyone believe she is serious, she is trying to protect her job while getting free publicity. Fire her.
We all know the real reason she's crying is because she's realized she's so low talent and low class that MSNBC is the only place that will give her a job.
Shame on msnbc. Finally decided to stop watching.
She claims to apologize without qualification and then immediately qualifies it by saying her intent was not malicious. Right. Well her intent darned sure wasn't friendly.
Crockadile tears
Racist! your apology is NOT accepted!
They should fire her just like they did with all the other people that made racist remarks.
Oh the irony. All of you horrid liberals made such a big deal out of morning with the duck guy, yet you turn around and defend this lady's obvious racism and all out attack on the romneys, including this little babby. Liberalism really is a mental disorder.
This just shows that liberals are as brain dead as are conservatives. Neither Fox nor MSNBC are worth watching because few on these networks seem to understand some basic rules of journalism.
MSNBC is still in the air ?
She's not sorry. She's just worried that she may just lies her job.
Treat her with equality and respect. FIRE HER!
Maybe we are tired of the hate filled messages the left and right spew out on their little shows. Harris-Perry, Glenn Beck, Rachel Maddow, on, and on.
Maybe that's why thinking Americans are skipping over the major news channels. Time for a change.
There is far too much political correctness in this world nowadays, especially here in the States. Everyone has to apologize to everyone else about something. This is pathetic. Someone whines and cries and the apologies just flow like a waterfall. Oh well. Let's just make this conversation about Democraps vs Republicants and yell at each other for a little while *whines and cries*
I am a very conservative Republican, I ca move forward and I only ask liberals to do the same when others make a mistake.
Even though MSNBC is known for idiots like her, they should still fire her. I doubt she meant a word in that apology.
Mormoncult and a Black baby? LOL
She only apologized because she's afraid to get fired.....lol
She should be fired from her job. There is zero tolerance for exacerbating racial bigotry for political ends.
Harris-Perry was doomed before she got in the news van. She's disingenuous if she doesn't note a black child among
a white family, a racist if she does, and an incompetent reporter if she ignores the conundrum. No "out" for
Melissa. Tears aside, she should've seen this as a lose-lose mission before-hand.
- Rob