Fox News host Juan Williams was shredded when he could not bring himself to denounce Peter Fonda’s vulgar attack on President Trump’s young son, calling the tweets “poorly worded” instead.
Williams downplayed the tweets by the Academy Award-nominated actor and filmmaker despite the fact that his threats prompted first lady Melania Trump to alert the Secret Service. Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld assumed Williams would feel simarily about Fonda’s “disgusting” rant, but his response caused a major backlash from “The Five” co-hosts on Wednesday.
In a series of tweets posted Wednesday, Fonda called for Barron Trump to be placed in a cage with pedophiles, urged protesters to surround Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents while they pick up their children from school and called for Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to be caged, “pilloried” and “whipped.”
“I’m not going to ask you to defend this, I know you found this disgusting,” Gutfeld said to his liberal cohort.
Williams reply was surprising, to say the least.
“No, to me it was a poorly worded tweet, offensive language used,” Williams said. “But what strikes me from this very conversation is that you guys delight in it because it takes away from the conversation focusing on what President Trump did which is antithetical to American values.”
Co-host, Kimberly Guilfoyle erupted at Williams’ remarks, interjecting when he accused the panel of taking “delight” in Fonda’s attack.
“That’s not poorly worded,” Guilfoyle shot back.
‘What Peter Fonda did was indefensible.,” she said, adding that it was a “criminal sexual act by a sexual predator against a child. That’s not poorly worded.”
Fonda later apologized for his tweets, as his representative issued a strange statement.
Statement from Peter Fonda’s rep: “Peter wanted to make sure that Melania and Ivanka communicate with the president the dire circumstances of separating mothers and young children. My response is the move was evil same as the Pope.”
— Sasha Savitsky (@SashaFB) June 20, 2018
The 78-year-old actor, brother of Jane Fonda and son of Hollywood legend Henry Fonda, admitted he “went way too far.” He also happens to have a movie coming out soon.
“I tweeted something highly inappropriate and vulgar about the president and his family in response to the devastating images I was seeing on television,” Fonda said in a statement, according to Time. “Like many Americans, I am very impassioned and distraught over the situation with children separated from their families at the border, but I went way too far. It was wrong and I should not have done it. I immediately regretted it and sincerely apologize to the family for what I said and any hurt my words have caused.”
There was also plenty of backlash by Fox News viewers who were appalled by Williams and his reaction to Fonda’s outburst.
Fonda called for women in the Trump administration to be stripped naked and beaten. He also called for those women and ICE agents to have their kids kidnapped and thrown into cages with pedophiles.
Apparently, this is not that bad to @TheJuanWilliams. pic.twitter.com/U67RmbjxnL
— Ryan Saavedra ?? (@RealSaavedra) June 20, 2018
Juan Williams just justified Peter Fonda’s tweet on The Five on Fox. He said it was “poorly worded.” It’s Trump’s fault. This behavior out of the left is absolutely chilling.
— Celeste (@Celeste09703995) June 20, 2018
#TheFive I am an AVID Fox News watcher. I already turn it off when shepherd Smith is on. I now will NOT watch the five anymore as long as you continue to put Juan Williams on! He HAS to go NOW!!!!! His comments about Peter Fonda’s tweet are unforgivable and unforgettable!
— Tammy Regan (@tamsjags) June 20, 2018
Juan Williams is a disgrace and an embarrassment for @FoxNews There’s NO WAY he can redeem himself for his defense of Peter Fonda…NO WAY! FIRE JUAN WILLIAMS FIRE JUAN WILLIAMS FIRE JUAN WILLIAMS FIRE JUAN WILLIAMS FIRE JUAN WILLIAMS FIRE JUAN WILLIAMS FIRE JUAN WILLIAMS
— Michael J. Fell (@MichaelJFell) June 21, 2018
I have been a long time fan of The Five on Fox news but after Juan Williams down plays the nasty, vulgar, violent statement from Peter Fonda against the President’s minor Son, I can no longer watch this program. I am disgusted.
— Pamela Nullmeyer (@penullmeyer) June 20, 2018
@FoxNews It’s time to dump Juan Williams from The Five. His defense of Peter Fonda today was my last straw! Will not watch on any day he’s there.
— ROBERT JONES (@JONESRwj1050) June 20, 2018
Juan is paid to take the lefts view in order to make Fox fair and balanced. This time he played the part of a fool. Shame on him
— andrew blackmon (@blackmon_andrew) June 21, 2018
this is why I don’t watch #TheFive
— G. Brown (@browngravy_93) June 20, 2018
IS THERE ANYTHING A LIBERAL can say that JUAN WILLIAMS WILL NOT AGREE WITH OR REFUSE TO CONDEMN ? @FoxNews
— Hale Burnside MD (@RuffusMD) June 20, 2018
I’m starting to think that NPR didn’t fire Juan because he had the wrong ideas, it was because he has no idea.
— Scream Cheese (@CheeseScream) June 20, 2018
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