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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I wonder how forgiving she was of Paula Dean.
They not not only to fire her but some of the panel as well. George S. needs a boot.
What a joke....when was the last time you saw Rush Limbaugh shed a tear for some zinger he threw out there.
Mellissa, you don't owe anyone an apology. You have helped Mitt resurrect himself back into the media, and you've given all of the GOP something to talk about, you've brought attention on MSNBC and just think, everybody will watch your show, now. It's official Mitt will be on Fox tomorrow. Isn't that a coincidence??? WMSR
This tearful apology is too little too late. She was crucified in social media and people were disgusted by her behavior. This happened over a week ago and she's now getting around to apologizing. The Twitter "apology" was the lazy way out. MSNBC realizes that they had to do something, especially after A&E's horrific handling of the Duck Dynasty/Phil Robertson debacle. Harris-Perry should have been fired. She overstepped her bounds and proved she could be even more crude than the tampons in the ears. MSNBC "news" reporters are a joke.
Shame on you MSNBC. I thought you were much better than Faux News.
It was a brave apology and well done. I commend her for that. We've all said thoughtless things at times, things we didn't mean, just getting caught up in a joke. Being in front of a camera so much of the time takes some getting used to, and I think she has the right heart for this job. A hard lesson learned. God bless her.
Steve you're SOOO right
If FOX would have made a comment (any comment) about the Obama family, MSNBC would have had that anchor's head on a platter. It was a poor comment and shows lack of values on her (and the network's) part.
What did Reverends Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton have to say about the comments made?
If she was an Indian male, she'd be fired (or forced to "resign"), last week. But since she isn't it's ok.
Nobody who watched this program is going to go out and buy a white hood because of what was said. People need to toughen up and move on. If you don't like the opinions being expressed on MSNBC then don't watch the channel.
She didn't mean it folks. She's just trying to not get fired.
I think it is great that people on the Left are being hammered for their crude behavior. So when will we also hammer those on the Right? Or do too many on the Right lack the moral code to feel shame when the or their side does the same thing?
What a difference in tone and content between Melissa Parry's apology and Fox News' Meghan Kelly's "apology" for stating that Jesus and Santa Claus were white. Meghan dismissed her remarks as a joke and that she was being attacked as a member of Fox News. Melissa's apology did not implicate anyone else and seemed very genuine.
I give her huge credit for the apology but I seriously do not think mitt and ann need it. More importantly the tight wing do not need it either. They created the most toxic political environment in recent years and should not be catered to our have their egos stroked.
This was a joke plain and simple. Get over it.
Big deal, lighten up. People take too many things personally.
If this was a republican, they would of been fired and given no chance for apology.
What happen to freedom of speech, this should not be blown out like this, I have heard worst, what is the deal with this......it wasn't disrespectful.
Wonder if Rush would ever apologize for all the attacks he engages in. Nahhh... he lacks the class.
Now that she had a chance for the obligatory fake appology she should have a chance to look for a new job. The folks at msnbc would demand no less of a fox new commentator making a racist comment against one of Obama's kids. Time to trim the dead wood. Tearful my butt. I've watched this woman and she definately meant every word of her original comment. Lots of hate in herm
Guys, she already recognized the error and apologized to the Romney family. Let's turn the page.
You know what is REALLY disturbing about this? How all of you sheep remain preoccupied over a COMPLETELY irrelevant issue while mother government blatantly tramples your rights and freedoms. Call me a radical loon, but if you waste time on this stupid bs, you are doing exactly what they want. Wake up people. Divide and conquer. They have used political polarization to distract all of you while they carry on with their underhanded shenanigans. Wake up. Before it's too late. And let the bashing of Chris begin.......NOW
No amount of good acting can hide Melissa's true racist character.
I would give her apology about an 8 out of 10. It was the absolute right thing to do. When was the last time a man apologized in this fashion? (Kobe Bryant, maybe). But I have a problem in the SCRIPTED nature of this apology. How many takes did she run through until she got it right? It was way too perfect. Not a single "um." This was the time a press conference with flashing cameras would've worked much better. Still, though, she gets a solid B grade.