Another week brings us another TV network that people are threatening to boycott. Melissa Harris-Perry ruffled a few feathers after jokes were made about Mitt Romney’s black grandson on her show. On the Melissa Harris-Perry show on MSNBC, Harris-Perry showed the family picture Romney posted to his Twitter account during the holidays. In the center of the photo, Romney is seen holding his black grandchild, which prompted Harris-Perry’s panelists to make a few jokes.
In the Melissa Harris-Perry episode that aired on December 29, the Romney family photo was shown during a Caption That segment. “Everybody loves a baby picture,” Harris-Perry said, “and this was one that really, a lot of people had emotions about this baby picture this year. This is the Romney family. And, of course, there on Governor Romney’s knee is his adopted grandson, who is an African-American, adopted African-American child, Kieran Romney.”
After Harris-Perry showed the picture, Pia Glenn sang “One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just isn’t the same.” Comedian Dean Obeidallah used the photo to make a crack about the Republican party. “I think this picture is great,” he said. “It really sums up the diversity of the Republican party, the RNC. At the convention, they find the one black person.”
Check out the Romney family photo below.
From our family to yours: Merry Christmas. cc: @AnnDRomney pic.twitter.com/DqbB6La6E1
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) December 24, 2013
It didn’t take long for the complaints about the jokes to start rolling in, with many people calling the comments “disrespectful” and “racist.” Harris-Perry apologized for the comments made about Romney’s grandson during the show on Twitter yesterday. Check out the apology tweets below.
I am sorry. Without reservation or qualification. I apologize to the Romney family. #MHPapology
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) December 31, 2013
I work by guiding principle that those who offend do not have the right to tell those they hurt that they r wrong for hurting. #MHPapology
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) December 31, 2013
Therefore, while I meant no offense, I want to immediately apologize to the Romney family for hurting them. #MHPapology
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) December 31, 2013
As black child born into large white Mormon family I feel familiarity w/ Romney family pic & never meant to suggest otherwise. #MHPapology
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) December 31, 2013
I apologize to all families built on loving transracial adoptions who feel I degraded their lives or choices. #MHPapology
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) December 31, 2013
Even though Melissa Harris-Perry apologized, this isn’t enough for some folks. Check out the tweets where people call for Harris-Perry’s head and threaten to boycott MSNBC below. Unlike the Duck Dynasty-A&E situation, no petitions have popped up yet, but maybe people are still recovering from the New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Boycott #MSNBC!!! They are racists allowing their employees to make appalling and unacceptable comments against children on national TV.
— TE (@Poohbearr88) January 1, 2014
@msnbc Melissa Harris Perry – FIRE HER RIGHT NOW! U think our reaction to A&E was large, keep this bitch on the air and see what happens.
— Nobody Nose (@nobodynose) December 31, 2013
Image via Twitter