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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unless she did this spontaneously, the network producers must have okayed this, which means the network essentially endorsed this skit.
Hmm. Paula Deen: Fired. Justine Sacco: Fired. Alex Baldwin: Fired. Phil Robertson: Suspended. None of those folks had the responsibility to remain unbiased and credible that a news person is supposed to have. They're all entertainers, with the exception of Ms. Sacco. So, is the media protecting their own here or are they making a decision to only punish white people? If a non-white person makes a racial slur is it still racism? Apparently not. Equal rights? Apparently not.
tearful, of course, after she realizes that she was going to lose her job now she is apologizing. that trash should be smacked right across the face and fired immediately
The apology is fine. Given that she didn't make the jokes and couldn't have known they would made, I think a suspension rather than a firing is appropriate. I think the comedians should be banned from further NBC broadcasts across the network. They indulged in racist humor, they should be taken off the airwaves.
Notice how she didn't shead a tear. Didn't seem authentic to me just bad acting.
PREFACE: I did not see the actual episode and am only going by what was written in THIS particular article.
That being said, I have not idea what people are getting bent out of shape about.
According to the article, she said "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."
Which part is offensive or "racist"...her being gorgeous? Marrying North West? Or Mitt Romney and Kanye West being inlaws?
I think all those who made fun should be fired period. This wouldnt be acceptable the other way around thats for sure. I want equality like everyone else and its only right to fire all those who made fun of Romney. I actually feel sorry for the baby, hasnt really been in this world long and is already experiencing racism. Its sad really really sad.
If it were reversed and a Caucasian Host said those things..Al Sharpton would be on their door step..What's good for the goose should be good for the gander..fire her..Tears or no tears....If there is a no tolerance format for ALL Hosts..maybe this wouldn't happen!!
I believe she is a child from a mixed relationship herself, and maybe the best 'caption' she was looking/asking for, was right there in her own mind. The panel shows the effect of group mentality taking over, and how quickly selfishness can sneak into our dialogue, and how disgusting "power plays" can be to the viewers. This case is a great example for the reason NOT to just turn the channel to another station, but to raise our voices in objection and wait for the apology to happen and hope the hurt parties will accept a sincere recant. Thank you Mr. Romney for showing the caring public we can see "calm" when we need it the most!
Melissa Harris-Perry and any semblance of real news never meet on her show. Pure left wing lapdog journalism. I force myself to watch MSNBC. I hope the brain cells it is killing aren't important.
Surprising that someone as lefty-liberal as this individual should make such comments. Aren't liberals supposed to be all forgiving and open minded? Truth is that liberals are open minded as long as you agree with them and do as you're told.
MSNBC and the people on it are organized RACIST.
Birds of a feather.....................................
should be fired
I watched the Dec 29 show in real time. When Ms. MHP introduced the segment involving the Romney Christmas card she was clearly gleefully anticipating the derisive remarks she had to know would come from her far left panel of "comedians." I don't buy that she wanted to celebrate the family photo. If there had not be the uproar, she never would have apologized because she didn't view what her guests said as mean spirited, but if someone on the right had said what she and her guests had said, she would have been the loudest voice in the MSNBC echo chamber condemning that person.
White racist idiots like rush and the duck guy can do it but no one else can
I think it was right for her to apologize, everyone in this nation needs to start loving themselves and loving each other more. However, I would be remiss if I did not point out that Fox and "Friends" uses racial undertones everyday in reporting the news and the level of disrespect given a sitting POTUS is unprecedented. They slang around "Muslim" to describe people as they used to slang the "N" word around. That is hurtful, we have Muslim citizens and they should het the same respect and dignity as Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists.
I would be remiss if I did not point out that Fox and "Friends" uses racial undertones everyday in reporting the news and the level of disrespect given a sitting POTUS is unprecedented. They slang around "Muslim" to describe people as they used to slang the "N" word around. That is hurtful, we have Muslim citizens and they should het the same respect and dignity as Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists.
If Mr. Romney is that sensitive, he would have failed as President anyway. Her comment was not malicious in any way. She has nothing to apologize for. Unfortunately, too many people are ready to jump on her because of their own insecurities. BTW, I come from a VERY diverse family.
If I had a son...
I noticed all the girls are in pink. Boys are in blue. Looks like this new child is in pink.
Fire her!
Very sad that a lovely and talented young woman would abuse the privilege she worked so hard to get. Unfortunately, she represents and tarnishes MSNBC. Her apology was further embarrassment, and knowing 'a little something' about body language, she was only sorry that her remark was not well received.
She should be unceremoniously let go, and replaced with one of many up-and-comers, who would appreciate and understand the responsibilities of representing the opinions of her employer. My Father said "The wise man learns from the mistakes of others" Perhaps MS. MHP can learn from her own.
When did we ever think that there is real journalism anymore. The fact is that majority if the entire world's media is owned by a handful of people who basically place their ideology into their networks and control what and how news is reported. Basically, it isn't news anymore.
MSNBC is a prime example of this. I watched the entire segment when this happened. It's funny how this 'comical' segment was unable to poke fun at 2 Pictures of pres Obama right before the Romney picture and when the Romney picture came up, they suddenly 'opened up'.
For one, I believe that if one does not know how to read and filter the news to try to get to really what happens in the world, then they are just victims of the 'media spin'. This will ultimately lead to much more hate between one another and only get worse from there.
The MSNBC host was joking. Phil Robertson believed in what he said. Humor, even bad one, deserves the same free speech protection as belief. However, freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. The MSNBC host should apologize for her joke. Robertson should apologize for suggesting black people were happy during the pre-civil rights era. If the roles were reversed, and white people were the ones subject to Jim Crow laws, would white people be happy? Just because blacks did not complain to Robertson does not mean they were happy. What good would complaining about racism to a white man do in the Old South?
she needs to be off air!