MSNBC's Joy Reid apologizes for 'insensitive' LGBT blog posts

[babylonsister]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna826091

NBC OUT
MSNBC's Joy Reid apologizes for 'insensitive' LGBT blog posts
by Brooke Sopelsa / Dec.03.2017 / 9:12 PM ET


MSNBC host Joy Reid issued an apology on Sunday for a series of blog posts nearly a decade ago, mostly critical of former Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, that have been criticized as homophobic and “anti-gay.”

“This note is my apology to all who are disappointed by the content of blogs I wrote a decade ago, for which my choice of words and tone have legitimately been criticized,” Reid said in a statement shared with NBC News, which, like MSNBC, is owned by NBCUniversal.

snip//

During the time she wrote those blog posts, Reid was a morning talk radio host and blogger covering Florida politics.

"Among the frequent subjects of my posts was then-governor Charlie Crist, at the time a conservative Republican, whose positions on issues like gay marriage and adoption by same-sex couples in Florida shared headlines with widely rumored reports that he was hiding his sexual orientation," Reid wrote in her apology.

"At no time have I intentionally sought to demean or harm the LGBT community, which includes people whom I deeply love. My goal, in my ham-handed way, was to call out potential hypocrisy," Reid added.

Crist, who served as Florida’s governor from 2007 to 2011, supported a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in 2008. He later apologized for supporting the amendment, telling Watermark Online, an online LGBT publication based in Orlando, "I’m sorry I did that. It was a mistake. I was wrong. Please forgive me."

Now, it is Reid who is seeking forgiveness for, as she put it, “insensitive, tone deaf and dumb” comments.

"In addition to friends and coworkers and viewers, I deeply apologize to Congressman Crist, who was the target of my thoughtlessness. My critique of anti-LGBT positions he once held but has since abandoned was legitimate in my view. My means of critiquing were not," she wrote.

"Re-reading those old blog posts, I am disappointed in myself. I apologize to those who also are disappointed in me. Life can be humbling. It often is. But I hope that you know where my heart is, and that I will always strive to use my words for good. I know better and I will do better," Reid wrote.

[uponit7771]

1. Good for her, love her like a play cousin... I know what she was trying to say

[JI7]

2. She was right about Crist back then. He has changed for the better

But everyone knew the marriage was about his political career and there was nothing to it.

[JI7]

3. Those going after Joy support Tulsi Gabbard

[Lunabell]

4. Nobody is "going after" her.

She made a mistake, big mistakes. And is rightfully apologizing for her words.

[BannonsLiver]

18. Big mistakes

Over a blog entry 10 years ago? I think not.

[Egnever]

43. For reference at the time those blog posts were written Hillary was against same sex marriage.

a lot of this digging lacks context and that seems more like witch hunting than righting wrongs.

[mythology]

45. These blogs weren't just against same sex marriage

She's apologized, and that's enough in my opinion, but these were silly poorly worded nonsense even 10 years ago.

That said, I do agree the times were different. We really have come a long way in a short amount of time on same sex issues. Yes I know it took a lot of work over a long time, but in the last 10 years there have been a lot of significant victories.

[Egnever]

47. The point was only that the attitude in general was different when those posts were written

We have come amazingly far in my lifetime. One of the biggest comedy routines in my youth was Eddie Murphy's raw try watching that now.

[msongs]

7. gabbard is being primaried by a progressive democrat. yay! nt

[oasis]

9. I don't recall Gabbard having a sterling record w/LGBT community.

Oh well!

[melman]

5. "I'm sorry you were offended"

Weak.

[babylonsister]

10. So what was she supposed to say?

Someone dredged this up to hurt her. I think her acknowledging it came up, explaining her mindset at the time and apologizing is entirely appropriate.
End of story.
Now I hope she gets back to being the outstanding journalist she is.

[melman]

12. But 'I'm sorry you were offended' isn't a real apology

[emulatorloo]

21. Full statement below. Point to the part where Reid says "I'm sorry you were offended". Hint, she

didnt say that.

Instead she said:

"There is no excusing it"

"In addition to friends and coworkers and viewers, I deeply apologize to Congressman Crist, who was the target of my thoughtlessness."

We can read, you know. You can't just fabricate quotes and expect we won't notice.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029922129#post20

[babylonsister]

44. Thank you!

[BannonsLiver]

19. Quit, or be fired apparently

This is a great example of a manufactured controversy.

[still_one]

57. She apologized. That is more than Jill Stein and Susan Sarandon, have done for encouraging people

NOT to vote for the Democratic nominee, and in fact have no regret for their actions

[DangerousUrNot]

6. I cant find the blog post but

I read some excerts and what was homophobic about it? I’m not trying to be insensitive but what did she say that was bad about gays?
On another note, I think she is one of the better anchors who call people out in their bullshit but I don’t really like her. It seems like she hates progressives or those who have ideologies that are farther to the left than hers.

[JI7]

8. DU is full is the same about graham, drier, crist, bachman husband etc

[DangerousUrNot]

11. Haha

Especially about Bachman’s husband!!

[FreeState]

34. Yep and its offensive when its here too

Many of us call them out every time we see it here.

[emulatorloo]

39. Agreed

[Oneironaut]

13. Not a big deal, imo. She apologized.

If they were done now, it would be a little different. Everybody has done at least one stupid thing on the internet. Her posts seem more like trolling.

I think the ultimate test should be if the person now is the same person as they were then. We have no way of knowing.

[greeny2323]

14. Exactly as I said earlier

These comments weren't "anti-gay", as the right is trying to spin them. These were attacks on the hypocrisy of many Republican politicians.

[JI7]

15. It's the Putin trolls who are spinning it.

[melman]

16. "Miss Charlie"

That's homophobic. Sorry, but it just is.

[emulatorloo]

22. That's correct, and she apologized for it. Despite your fabricated quote to the contrary.

[melman]

23. Fabricated quote?

Where's that?

[emulatorloo]

24. Here: melman wrote 5. "I'm sorry you were offended"

5. "I'm sorry you were offended"
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029922129#post5

12. But 'I'm sorry you were offended' isn't a real apology
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=9922201

[melman]

25. yeah

that's the jist of what she's saying there. It wasn't meant to be a literal quote.


As you know perfectly well.

[emulatorloo]

26. Uh-huh. Reid's actual words: "I deeply apologize to Congressman Crist"

"There is no excusing it"

"In addition to friends and coworkers and viewers, I deeply apologize to Congressman Crist, who was the target of my thoughtlessness."

We can read, you know. Don't piss on our shoes and tell us it's raining.

Full statement here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029922129#post20

[melman]

27. Lame

Really really lame. If that's the best you can do it should tell you something. Namely that I'm right and you can't argue it.

[emulatorloo]

28. What's lame is you doubling down after you've been shown Reid's actual quotes.

You're not "right," as you completely misrepresented Reid's statement, fabricated a quote she didn't say (despite your failed attempt to backpedal), and it is all right there in black and white.

Have a nice night.

[melman]

29. What's lame is you trying this whole 'fabricated quote' routine

It's even weaker than Reid's non-apology apology and that's saying something.

[emulatorloo]

30. Please proceed

[Tipperary]

52. I think her apology sounded genuine. Those type comments are offensive to me.

But I think her apology was heartfelt and real.

[stevenleser]

37. Yep that person definitely has an agenda here.

Seems all of DUs JPR types are pushing this one. They seem to want to hurt Joy Reid. I’m guessing this is payback for her criticism of Bernie. It’s not an honest position. https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029921165#post20

Find someone pushing this here and check their posting history and you will see JPR type mentality.

[babylonsister]

46. Maybe it's just dt supporters who are anti-media now, who

want to bring down a popular, black, successful woman.

That makes more sense than blaming it on people who supported Sanders.

I was one icymi, but voted for Clinton.

[stevenleser]

50. You are accusing me of something I didnt do.

I didn’t blame Sanders supporters, I blamed JPR types. JPR types are only about 1-3% of Sanders supporters.

[R B Garr]

53. Totally nailed it. Some are trying to get her fired

over at that site, but writings degrading women were okay so they won’t get too far with that hypocrisy. I got it right away that Joy was emphasizing the GOP hypocrisy and shaming. They are not going to get anywhere with this agenda of continually attacking anyone who dares say a word critical of Bernie.

[uponit7771]

55. So you're claim of lame is ... lame? tia

[nadine_mn]

36. wait how can you it say it wasn't meant to be a literal quote

when you LITERALLY put quote marks around it

"I'm sorry if you were offended"


That is how quotes work

[stevenleser]

38. 100% correct. See my #37 above for what is going on here.

This is a block of people intentionally going after Joy.

[Proud liberal 80]

17. Am I missing something?

I read her comments and it seemed as if she did what the people in the LGBT community would do if they thought someone was in the closet and being a hypocrite.

[SCantiGOP]

56. And Crist accepted her apology

And thanked her for it.

[aaaaaa5a]

20. Here is her full statement. We need to move on.

Making a few things plain... my full statement, as excerpted by NBC OUT

STATEMENT FROM JOY REID

This note is my apology to all who are disappointed by the content of blogs I wrote a decade ago, for which my choice of words and tone have legitimately been criticized.

As a writer, I pride myself on a facility with language -- an economy of words or at least some wisdom in the selection. However, that clearly has not always been the case.

In 2007 I was a morning talk radio host and blogger, writing about Florida politics (a blog I maintained until 2011.) Among the frequent subjects of my posts was then-governor Charlie Crist, at the time a conservative Republican, whose positions on issues like gay marriage and adoption by same-sex couples in Florida shared headlines with widely rumored reports that he was hiding his sexual orientation. Those reports were the subject of lots of scrutiny: by LGBTQ bloggers, writers and journalists, conservative blogs, a controversial documentary film called “Outrage,” and even by the comedic writers at South Park. But it was my own attempt at challenging Crist on my blog that has now raised the issue of not just my choice of words, but what was and is in my heart.
Let me be clear: at no time have I intentionally sought to demean or harm the LGBT community, which includes people whom I deeply love. My goal, in my ham-handed way, was to call out potential hypocrisy.

Nonetheless, as someone who is not a member of the LGBT community, I regret the way I addressed the complex issue of the closet and speculation on a person’s sexual orientation with a mocking tone and sarcasm. It was insensitive, tone deaf and dumb. There is no excusing it – not based on the taste-skewing mores of talk radio or the then-blogosphere, and not based on my intentions.
In addition to friends and coworkers and viewers, I deeply apologize to Congressman Crist, who was the target of my thoughtlessness. My critique of anti-LGBT positions he once held but has since abandoned was legitimate in my view. My means of critiquing were not.

In the years since I went from blogger to opinion journalist, I have also learned, through brilliant friends and allies in the LGBT activist community, how to better frame my critiques of those who challenge people’s right to love who they want, marry them, and walk in the world as fully free people.

Re-reading those old blog posts, I am disappointed in myself. I apologize to those who also are disappointed in me. Life can be humbling. It often is. But I hope that you know where my heart is, and that I will always strive to use my words for good. I know better and I will do better.

--Joy Reid

End of Response.

Anyone who doesn't know where Joy's stance is on this issue needs to do some research. Don't let conservatives use this to create false equivalency. The GOP and the media thrive on that. There are far more pressing issues for this forum to discuss.

[nolabear]

31. Oh please. Remember the Marcus Bachman posts here?

The Lindsay Graham snark? The speculation about Pence?

It’s not anti-LGBT, it’s anti-anti-LGBT.

[FreeState]

35. Its offensive n/t

[Mike Nelson]

32. That does not...

...seem weak at all. It's an honest apology... I'm happy she did some explaining, which I don't takes as deflecting blame. I wish there was some example of what was offensive... not interested enough to go searching, though. Joy Reid is still a favorite!

[Behind the Aegis]

33. Good for her.

What a shame people, 10 years on, are still making excuses for this type of "criticism" and pretending it is simply "calling out hypocrisy", it isn't! Every time I see people making people making similar remarks about other politicians/actors/whomever, it pretty much tells me what I need to know about said person, and I do include gay people in that category!

[stevenleser]

40. Agreed and she should have apologized and it was a good apology. The problem

and it is a sickening one at that, is that these blog posts were part of a data mining effort by certain people (see my #37 above) because Joy criticized Bernie Sanders.

The agenda here isn’t really to protect LGBT rights. LGBT issues are being cynically used as a political tool. They intended to use whatever they found in the way of controversial writing to punish Joy.

[cwydro]

54. You are so right.

I hate seeing it here, and I’m disappointed to learn Joy engaged in that nonsense.

Already in this thread I see posters using that lame excuse of hypocrisy. Smh.

I’m glad she apologized. I think she’s genuinely embarrassed and sorry now. I still respect and admire her.

[Nevernose]

41. She talked mad shit about Hillary on that blog, too

And said bad stuff about Clinton in general during that time period, as well as criticizing the Democratic Party. People change. Opinions change.

I hate to make this a Sanders thread (I swear I’ve been trying to just leave that subject alone), but Joy’s anti-Sanders attitude bugs me. Not the opinion, exactly, but the intensity. She's got a history of saying not-nice stuff about Hillary, and contrary to popular belief the 2016 Democratic Primary was really tame (on the candidates’ parts, because supporters can be assholes).

So I guess I only agree with Joy 98% of the time She’s maybe the only person or show on TV news that I consider “must see,” the only talking head besides David Byrne that I go out of my way to listen to.

Ten years is a long time. Like I said: people change. Attitudes change. Opinions and values and what is considered acceptable change. Twenty years ago calling another kid a “F” and beating him up in the locker room was considered socially acceptable in most places in America; lawsuits have been filed more recently arguing that homophobic slurs are protected religious speech.

I’m glad she realizes her earlier-in-life mistakes and is willing to apologize for them.

[babylonsister]

48. Thank you. nt

[emulatorloo]

49. Crist responds to Reid's apology:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029922727

[BigDemVoter]

51. As a gay man, if I had to shake a stick at every person who ever said something homophobic, my hand

holding the stick would fall off.


Given the rapid changes of perceptions regarding the LGBT community, I can easily forgive Joy Reid, as she has shown herself to be a true progressive in every sense.