On Tuesday evening Fox News host Bill O'Reilly issued an apology of sorts to Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., for the comment he made earlier in the day that was deemed as racist, and sexist, by some.
"This morning on Fox and Friends, I said in a simple jest, that the congressman's hair distracted me," O'Reilly said in his opening segment.
"Well that was stupid, and I apologize, it had no place in the conversation," he finished, snickering by the end of it.
Waters did not appear fazed, but rather, desensitized to the remarks. Waters told Chris Hayes last night that she is "a strong black woman" and that she "can not be intimidated" by Bill O'Reilly, or by anyone else. Waters went on to talk about how men like O'Reilly and Roger Ailes, have "no credibility." Fox News founder Ailes, was ousted as chairman after being accused of sexual assault. According to the New York Times, Fox News also settled allegations of sexual harassment against O'Reilly, as well.
"When a woman stands up, and speaks truth to power, that there will be attempts to put her down. And so, I'm not going to be put down, I'm not going to go anywhere, I'm going to stay on the issues," Waters added.
Media Matters reminded people that this wasn't the first time Waters was hit with comments that have an undertone of racism on Fox News.
O'Reilly also noted that Waters is "totally sincere in her belief system," and that it's "not necessary to poke fun at anyone who's speaking from the heart in the political arena." He then proceeded with a rant accusing Waters of "demagoguery" and called on her, and liberals of the like, to "stop the ideological nonsense," and instead "focus on "what America offers."
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