Mika Brzezinski Apologizes For Using “Crass And Offensive” Language

The MSNBC host is 'really, really sorry.'

Mika Brzezinski
Mika Brzezinski, host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" has issued an on-camera apology for "crass and offensive" remarks. (Photo by Thos Robinson/Getty Images for The New Yorker)
Getty Images for The New Yorker

MSNBC’s Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski apologized on Friday for the “crass and offensive” remarks she made to describe Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, NBC News reports.

During a segment on Brzezinski Wednesday show, the host made the crass remarks while discussing the ongoing debate over Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s involvement in the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“Are the pathetic deflections that we just heard, when [Pompeo] appeared on ‘Fox & Friends,’ is that a patriot speaking, or a wannabe dictator’s butt boy? Dead serious, I’m asking. Are these the words of a patriot?” the host asked.

The term “butt boy” didn’t sit well with viewers, especially the LGBTQI community, as well as President Trump and Richard Grenell, who is openly gay and the US Ambassador to Germany- both expressed concern on Twitter.

Brzezinski tweeted an apology on Wednesday, however by Friday morning she was apologizing on-air: “Please allow me to say this face-to-face,” she said live at the top of the 6 a.m. ET show. “The term is crass and offensive and I apologize to everybody, especially the LGBTQ community and to my colleagues.” The host added, “I just wanted to say on camera, looking people straight in the eye: I am really, really sorry.”

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