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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The Romney's post s picture of them with a black baby and everyone is shocked that there are comments about them?
Really. has the world become that naive?
stupid thing to do but watch all the racially sensitive, minority focussed right wingers jump in and pretend they are appalled…how's that voter suppression activity against blacks and other minorities working folks?
As my Grandmother always said. "Everyone makes mistakes. It takes a persin of character to apologize."
She's only sorry that everyone was offended by her racist comments, not for what she did and said. She said and did what she truly felt, otherwise she wouldn't have done what she did. Her claims that she understands the plight of children and empathizes with them as she was a child of mixed parentage is evn more aggregious. If, as she claims, she also suffered then why did she engage in this behavior in the first place; why did she allow Pia Glenn to conduct herself as she did (singing "One thing is different from another")?
She is a racist and like all true racists apologizes for their conduct only when they suffer the consequences of their actions. As far as I am concerned she has now made it abunduntly clear how she really feels about interaccial families, whites and the Romney family. This smokescreen is nothing more than attempt to maintain her employment with MSNBC.
I am certain of one thing and that is had any other network had an on air incident such as this they would have immediately taken action to distance themselves from the person, or persons involved. MSNBC should be held accounatble for their notable lack of response in this matter.
Scary and very sad. All of us acting like a bunch of 6 yr olds instead of Americans. Damn...just live and let live! MEDIA... Stop dividing us. I'm just a man trying to raise a family, love my neighbor, and make a living like millions of others but all you do is bring us down. For what? Selling commercials? Whatever it is...it's getting old.
I distinctly remember in the early nineties when Rush Limbaugh use to make fun of Chelsea Clinton's braces and her looks in particular. Nobody got perturbed over that one–don't figure
If you spread hatred, you are fired from CNN...
... and promptly hired by Faux (with a raise).
See Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck.
I have yet to hear Romney apologize for his 47% comment that insulted the majority of Americans. This adoption is nothing more than a publicity stunt by the Romney's, much like Palin using her Down's Syndrome grandchild for window dressing during that campaign. Must be all 1% here to think it is alright for someone running for President to label most of America as users and takers, but woe to anyone that thinks this baby is anything more than the Romney family desperately trying to convince everyone the are just the same as everyone. Perhaps they forgot that, until recently, the Mormon Church held with the belief that being black was the mark of God put on Cain for killing his brother. Just like Romney that "church" flip flops too. Whatever floats their boats. Sorry bunch of hypocrites.
Let's see
Imus was fired
Paula went under
Dog was punished.....
Bill M.....out..
Keep on going....Looks like it works only one way. This apology was needed but I look at this lady differently in this world where one side gets to do all of the firing and the other side gets to apologize..
I have always thought the Romneys to be a classy family and have admired their family values........I would vote for Romney if he decided to run again.....
i'm a bit surprised, as she appears to be an equality activist and she appears to be mixed race. one would think that might help her to develop empathy. she underscores the reality that all people can be racist, although many times my black friends have said it's impossible for blacks to *be* racist (since racism is white against black?!!? i never understood that reasoning).
peace out lady. it's easy to make a mistake, and you pay more for it when you're a public figure. you'll be fine.
As offensive and hypocritical as Ms. Harris-Perry's comments were, I would in no way be in favor of her being fired over this. Free speech is free speech.
This over-sensitive political correctness has become one of the most destructive tools in our country.
Fire her
Wow, tears on demand. Good actress.
although, it IS funny to me that this should appear now. i was awake early saturday morning, turned to MSNBC, muttered 'who the heck is melissa harris-perry' and promptly tuned out the show as background to computer stuff, didn't hear what they were talking about. so, now i know who melissa harris-perry is (did i get her name right?)
The reason Fox doesn't have their commentators apologize for their comments is that they are not usually racial ones directed towards an infant child. That's beyond low folks.
Anything to take the news off of all the people losing their healthcare because of Obamacare.
Interesting how much the limp wristed liberals whine when their people get insulted but when the Left makes a negative comment they down play it and take no responsibility until forced to. She should lose her job and MSBNC change their policies to make their reporting the news fair, balanced and none insulting.
She is a racist and should be fired. If she is not fired it proves msnbc is a racist network.
Cried only because she might lose her cushy affirmative action job !
Interesting. The only time CNN, MSNBC and the other main stream media (and A&E) back off a bad decision or vilifying attacks of other who do not agree with them is when those who know they are very wrong hammer them with facts or dollars.
These people are always talking about races but in my opinion they are the racists and intolerant of those who do nto agree with everything they say.
Being the only black face in a sea of white isn't fun. I've been there. As long as far right conservatives continue to hold on to the past, this country may never attain a different form of decency and greatness. Such a shame. I have no idea why the Romney's adopted a black baby and as such I'm not qualified to judge them. I just hope to God they did it for the right reasons. From my own experiences I do however know that the whole family will have to work extra hard to make sure that gorgeous little guy will be treated as an equal both at home and within the Romney social circles. Call me racist but I know that many people say they're progressive but are really and truly evil within. Pray for that little boy.
Somebody needs a vacation. While on vacation come back down to earth. I am tired of the stupid stories on the news everybody reports the same news stories...
Love the double standards; apparently it's fine for right wing media outlets to poke fun at liberals (it's about time the other side shares the same meal at the table, suck it up conservatives).
"my intention was not malicious, but I broke the ground rule that families are off limits..."
I would like to hear what her "intent" was. Lady, you showed your true colors. Too late
I also find it interesting that they play her apology, but not her original comment.
Because she is black, she gets a pass. Whatever. Nobody is watching anyway.
Bottom line is that she got her job because she is black, and she is keeping it for the same reason.
I love you M HP plus your show but I think you just got a little off track