African-American woman in Congress speaks up against the president, Bill O’Reilly says he won’t listen because of her hair. pic.twitter.com/GVOkZNBNX9
— Media Matters (@mmfa) March 28, 2017
Bill O’Reilly has apologized for making a disrespectful joke about longtime U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters in which he called her hair a “James Brown wig.”
“As I have said many times, I respect Congresswoman Maxine Waters for being sincere in her beliefs,” O’Reilly said in a statement. “I said that again today on ‘Fox & Friends’ calling her ‘old school.’ Unfortunately, I also made a jest about her hair which was dumb. I apologize.”
O’Reilly’s snide remark drew fierce reactions from Twitter as he ignored Water’s remarks on how Black Americans are, in many ways, more patriotic than Trump supporters.
Waters said during a House speech Monday, March 27, that even though Black people have been discriminated against, “We stand up for America often times when others who think they are more patriotic — who say they are more patriotic — do not.
“We’re saying to those who say they’re patriotic, but they’ve turned a blind eye to the destruction that [Trump’s] about to cause this country, ‘You’re not nearly as patriotic as we are,'” the 78-year-old added.
In a segment on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday, March 28, O’Reilly admitted he wasn’t listening to Waters’ speech.
“I didn’t hear a word she said,” he said to the show’s laughing co-hosts. “I was looking at the James Brown wig.”
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt stepped in to back Waters by saying, “You can’t go after a woman’s looks. I think she’s very attractive.”
O’Reilly later applauded Waters for saying what she believes. “She’s not a phony, and that’s old school,” he said.
Waters’ office declined to comment on the matter.
Twitter users didn’t find the remark comparing Waters’ hair to that of James Brown, who died in 2006, humorous.
https://twitter.com/britrbennett/status/846796330265567232
@mmfa these people at Fox are proving that only ignorant bigots watch their programming. This coverage is appalling.
— Canary (@Justiceneeds) March 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/EricaJoy/status/846743968045907968
@Justiceneeds @mmfa I don’t know why, but the ppl laughing piss me off more. Empowering that asshole instead of calling him out!
— Rina Alexis (@saharvey75) March 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/SoloExMachina/status/846751233000062977
You can NOT REDUCE the power of @MaxineWaters passionate words with Petty insults. They will always try to disparage our hair, clothing, how https://t.co/Ou98QbZ2MF
— Aja Naomi King (@ajanaomi_king) March 28, 2017
We speak and how we choose to present ourselves in the world, but we are UNDENIABLE and we are WORTHY!!! #WEGOHIGH https://t.co/Ou98QbZ2MF
— Aja Naomi King (@ajanaomi_king) March 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/lukeoneil47/status/846740739107311617
Some users called for Fox to terminate O’Reilly.
Bill O'Reilly is a straight up racist, and Fox News is racist for having him as an employee. He should be fired immediately.
— Derenic Byrd (@DerenicByrd) March 28, 2017
I seem to recall Don Imus being fired for similar commentary about black women; though in that case, not about a *member of congress.* https://t.co/2d2ldkCv92
— Nope. (@JoyAnnReid) March 28, 2017
Others defended O’Reilly’s comment, largely pointing fingers at jesters who made fun of Trump’s hair.
https://twitter.com/TrumpUSA__/status/846796347692933120
"Bill O'Reilly"
Maxine Waters insults Pres Trump/his voters on a daily basis cannot take criticism about her hair?🙄🤔😒— Dog Caregiver (@Chanel4646) March 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/2GunRock/status/846784749263818752
The left is upset that Bill O’Reilly mocked someone’s hair yet they mock POTUS hair on a daily basis. pic.twitter.com/PaF7PO8hz4
— Hot Rod (@dsrt_pnk) March 28, 2017
