Comedian Michelle Wolf’s monologue at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night drew criticism from political pundits, mainly focused on her comments about Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, Margaret Talev, wrote in a letter to members that Wolf’s monologue was “not in the spirit” of the group’s mission with respect to its annual dinner. The statement was shared by the WHCA on its Twitter account.
#WHCA Statement to Members on Annual Dinner pic.twitter.com/8DKoHNxpNi
— WHCA (@whca) April 30, 2018
People are criticizing Wolf for what they say was an attack on Sanders’ appearance. During the monologue, Wolf said, “She burns facts then uses that ash to create the perfect smoky eye.”
Wolf has been criticized by many, including MSNBC’s Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, The New York Times‘ Maggie Haberman and Fox News correspondent Ed Henry. But many comedians and others argued that she did not attack Sanders’ looks but gave criticism instead about her job performance and actions.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Talev, a Bloomberg White House correspondent, was getting pressured to release a statement. She said she’d heard from members “expressing dismay with the entertainer’s monologue and how it reflects on our mission.” She continued by saying, “Last night’s program was meant to offer a unifying message about our common commitment to a vigorous and free press while honoring civility, great reporting and scholarship winners, not to divide people. Unfortunately the entertainer’s monologue was not in the spirit of that mission.”
Shortly after Talev released her statement, President Trump chimed in, saying the dinner was a failure last year, but this year was an embarrassment to “everyone associated with it.”
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was a failure last year, but this year was an embarrassment to everyone associated with it. The filthy “comedian” totally bombed (couldn’t even deliver her lines-much like the Seth Meyers weak performance). Put Dinner to rest, or start over!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2018
He previously tweeted that Wolf had “bombed.”
Wolf has not directly responded but put a photo of herself up on Instagram a couple hours later with a caption that read “Not in the spirit of the mission.”
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