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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Can we just strap her to the roof of Romneys car and be done with it???
Tell it to Paula Deen
If she really feels that way the situation would not have developed. MSNBC must dump her.
Such a double standard. This woman should not be on the air any more. Had this been a white man he would have been fired. Please make an example of her.
Just another political hypocrite. I give her a small piece of credit for her on screen apology. She should invite Romney and his family to her show where she can apologize face to face. Anyone who apologizes on a social media site or any internet site is a coward. But that is how people do it these days. Say what they feel, realize it was inappropriate, apologize on social media [hide behind the anonymity] and think they have done the proper thing. Hypocrites all.
Is this any surprise? Arrogant smug "news" network MSNBC spouting their hate for anyone that is not supportive of their Progressive Liberal agenda, taking cheap shots at a baby for heavens sake!
Per usual, the racists trolls are drawn to this story like flies to...
Ha ha MSNBC is a bunch of losers, anyone that would even go to that channel is someone I would consider a loser
So MSNBC will retain the services of this bigoted monster? I see.
I would be mad if I was half black too!!
Fire her, her "performance" came straight from her heart. If you don't fire her, you lose your credibility and objectivity.
Listen we accept your apology.
Melissa Harris-Perry I think what you fail to realize is that you STILL NEED TO LOSE YOUR JOB OVER THIS.
Think before you speak next time.
Surprised they did not fire her. I guess racism is more acceptable coming from an liberal, African American, sitcom host.
I am starting to not like MSNBC for their hypocritical behavior. What Martin and Melissa said in no way compares to the eacist strong comments made by the rights against the POTUS and His family. Every week the disgusting comments made on Fox are far more sickening than anything these two have said. If they fire Melissa I will just change stations. who they need to get rid of is Joe Scarborough. Melissa herself didn't say anything offensive about Romney who is a disgusting person that along with Ryan said many insulting things against Americans. Martin spoke the truth against a woman who should not be covered by any news media anymore for her treasonous comments against the president and his family. What is going on here? Weekly the racist right makes sickening comments against the left.
Maybe MSNBC should go ahead and schedule 30- to 60-minutes of programming each day to allow for the necessary apologies?
Thank you, Melissa. I can tell your apology was heartfelt.
blubber blubber blubber I am still a racist but this is what I have to do to save my job. Given I am a Liberal all that counts is my feelings not my actions so blubber blubber blubber give me a chance to do it again.
We all say stupid things. It the what-can-go-wrong section of the manual on being human. Some apologies seem less authentic than others, but I was taught to own up when I make a mistake, and I think it is a good model for us and for kids when adults acknowledge that they aren't perfect.
I don't accept her apology nor Martin's since I don't feel they should apologize neither said anything that was wrong. compared to Fox news that constantly insults the POTUS. I do feel that CNN and other blogging sites should apologize for allowing all the insulting comments against the POTUS and his family to cease. I feel CNN and other blogging sites should apologize for allowing all the trash posted against the president. What martin said was true and Melissa said nothing wrong.
The Romneys were clearly outraged and will be outraged when the time is right. Thanks to the 5 people watching.
Hay shes black she cant be a racist.only white people are racist.there were 10,000 black n brown familes tryin to adopt that baby n those damb Romnys out bid them all.!! now that poor baby has to live with those rich racist slave ownin dirty whites.boy thats just not right!!Dr.king jessy n al wont like this.
MSNBC just lost another viewer, just like Food Network did with the Paula Deen BS. So far the race that is being the racist are the African Americans, they show no tolerance. They want the past to stay current because they believe EVERYONE owes them something. Now don't yell not all African Americans are like that but a big majority are and even our friends who are Black (yes they prefer to be called Black rather then African American) are fed up with their own race. That is sad, we are all humans lets all just do what we can to make this a better place to live!
If you are black or half black you can be racist without backlash from Jackson or Sharpton.....
Excuse me???
She probably won't be fined or suspended because of who she works for.
I am glad she made an apology and I don't think she should loose her job over this. her show did something stupid and it hurt a lot of people. No way does this excuses what she said or did, and it's crazy to read what some people are saying to defend her. In fact I am offended more by the comments her then anything else.
We have to grow up as a country and learn how to forgive others who disagree with us. We should not say dumb or offensive things just to defend someone from "our side". Anyhow that is my two cents.