MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski found herself apologizing after being torched for what appeared to be a homophobic slur against Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The “Morning Joe” co-host unleashed a vulgar rant on the air Wednesday morning in reaction to an interview with Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin.
Discussing the reaction of Pompeo’s response to assessments by intelligence communities on the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, Durbin admitted it would be troubling if “all trails lead to the crown prince.” The CIA reportedly concluded that the journalist’s murder was ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“It is worrisome if all trails lead to the crown prince, there could be a change of power in Saudi Arabia and we’re not certain which direction it would be headed to. It is that uncertainty that probably leads him to this conclusion, a conclusion that is not supported by the intelligence evidence from the very agency that he used to head just weeks ago,” Durbin said.
Echoing remarks made by President Trump, Pompeo called Saudi Arabia an “important ally” of the U.S., telling “Fox & Friends” that “some of the reporting that you’ve seen on that has been inaccurate.”
“So Joe, I just have to ask because I don’t think — I can’t think of anyone here who can put it more clearly than you,” Brzezinski said to co-host and husband, Joe Scarborough.
“I understand that Donald Trump doesn’t care,” Brzezinski said. “But why doesn’t Mike Pompeo care right now? Are the pathetic deflections that we just heard when he appeared on ‘Fox and Friends,’ is that a patriot speaking or a wannabe dictator’s butt boy? And I’m dead serious, I’m asking, are these the words of a patriot?”
“He debased himself. He once again undercut the conclusions of our intel community,” Scarborough agreed.
.@morningmika just asked if Mike Pompeo is a “wannabe dictator’s butt boy,” as homophobic a term as I’ve heard on national morning television. @MSNBC tried and failed to censor it, and did not transcribe her remark in the closed captioning. #journalism pic.twitter.com/3zK7H8evjh
— G.E. Anderson (@g_e_anderson) December 12, 2018
I was with you, @morningmika, right up to the “butt boy” comment. Try “toadie” or “lackey” or “stool pigeon” or “ass kisser,” or “traitor,” but maybe don’t equate homosexuality with Mike Pompeo carrying water for the murderous regime in Saudi Arabia.
— G.E. Anderson (@g_e_anderson) December 12, 2018
After some more discussion with Durbin, Scarborough gave a shout out to the Fox News hosts who pressed Pompeo for answers.
The MSNBC host noted he wanted to “extend thanks to hosts of ‘Fox & Friends.’ We know at least two of them pretty well, and we really respect what they did this morning. They asked the secretary of state the questions that needed to be asked,” he said. “And my God, Pompeo’s answers were horrifying.”
“Horrifying,” Brzezinski echoed.
But what was actually “horrifying” was her language, and Twitter users raked Brzezinski over the coals for her remarks.
Wow!
— Henry Wawrzonek (@wawrzonek_henry) December 12, 2018
wtf?
— Loren (@LorenSethC) December 12, 2018
What the HELL @MSNBC. That is a horrible homophobic statement!! WOW
— intersection (@krashcourse1) December 12, 2018
Mika how could you? So disappointed ☹️
— Scott S. (@Q_Element) December 12, 2018
They can’t help themselves. https://t.co/FVoouubQLb
— JWF (@JammieWF) December 12, 2018
Brzezinski tweeted an apology after the show, admitting her “SUPER BAD choice of words.”
Totally agree with you -SUPER BAD choice of words .. I should have said “water boy”… like for football teams or something like that.. apologize to @SenatorDurbin too! SO SORRY! https://t.co/zIqsGdK3Tk
— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) December 12, 2018
But the firestorm of criticism she sparked with her on-air slur seemed unabated even after her apology, as many Twitter users noted the left’s double standard.
She’ll get a pass. She’s on their side.
— All these changes & still no edit button. Guh. (@daganash) December 12, 2018
This apology isn’t good enough. Not a simple oops moment. It’s deeply disturbing.
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) December 12, 2018
You said exactly what you meant. Your veil slipped, and now it is time to try to deflect from reality.
— Idealistically Nihlistic (@IdealisticallyN) December 12, 2018
Kevin Hart, no Oscars! Mika apologizes and all is well. Liberal rules are confusing.
— H.R. (@postoak99) December 12, 2018
Just curious, if Rush or someone from Fox news had used the term would you be asking for an apology or for them to be fired. Double standards do not end homophobia!
— Matthew Bigham (@onebigham) December 12, 2018
— Gabriella Maltese ?? (@gabixmaltese) December 12, 2018
Hypocrisy at its finest. Not surprised. @MSNBC
— William Cardoza (@WilliamC773) December 12, 2018
Not a big surprise coming from a hater like Mika. She is who she is but the double standard applies in this case. If Hannity or Ingraham said this there would be screams for them to be fired. Move on people, nothing to see here.
— Edward Petro (@EdwardPetro3) December 12, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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