Logo

MSNBC Fires Employee Who Sent Out Controversial Tweet

Jan 31, 2014  •  Post A Comment

MSNBC has fired the employee who sent out a tweet that dipped into racially sensitive territory, The Hollywood Reporter’s Live Feed reports.

As previously reported, MSNBC deleted the tweet after receiving complaints from conservatives about the message, which focused on a Cheerios Super Bowl ad that depicts a biracial family. The tweet read, “Maybe the rightwing will hate it, but everyone else will go awww: the adorable new #Cheerios ad w/ biracial family."

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus responded to the tweet by calling for a Republican boycott of the network. In a letter to MSNBC President Phil Griffin sent Thursday morning, Priebus complained that MSNBC had been engaging in “demeaning attacks” against Republicans.

“With increasing frequency many of your hosts have personally denigrated and demeaned Americans — especially conservative and Republican Americans — without even attempting to further meaningful political dialogue,” Priebus wrote.

Griffin responded with a statement that said the tweet was “outrageous and unacceptable.” He added: "We have dismissed the person responsible for the tweet. I personally apologize to Mr. Priebus and to everyone offended. At MSNBC we believe in passionate, strong debate about the issues and we invite voices from all sides to participate. That will never change."

Thumbnail image for phil griffin.pngPhil Griffin

5 Comments

  1. Yeah, and if this had been tweeted by an employee at Fox News and directed toward the Democrats, he/she would have been given a raise. Fair and balanced…

  2. Conservatives don’t watch NBC anyway, why NBC would cave to these right wingers is beyond me. Not like your going to loose any viewers for telling the truth.

  3. What Stu and Lindy said. In addition, there wa nothing especially “outrageous” about the tweet in question. The only people who could take offense at it were those who thought it was talking about them — i.e., they agreed with the sentiments but didn’t like having it pointed out in public.

  4. Actually it was conservatives in biracial families that initially voiced their outrage. It was a stupid remark designed to entertain liberals.

  5. Stu, Lindy, Michael…Don’t you just love getting your news from a network that has lost all credibility (least trusted of all news organizations) and that nobody but you and a handful of people watch??? Oh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t take that tone with you. Go on, go back to msnbc/nbc and continue your “education.”

Leave a Reply to Michael Ellis Day Cancel Reply

Email (will not be published)