Brzezinski apologizes after backlash over homophobic remark about Pompeo

MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski is apologizing after she used a homophobic remark to describe  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Wednesday morning on “Morning Joe.” 

Brzezinski was speaking about Pompeo’s interview on cable news rival “Fox & Friends,” where the secretary of State reiterated that while the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was a “tragic incident” that America doesn’t approve of, the Saudis are still “an important ally” of the United States.

“I understand that Donald Trump doesn’t care … But why doesn’t Mike Pompeo care right now?” Brzezinski asked during an interview with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “Are the pathetic deflections that we just heard when he appeared on ‘Fox & Friends,’ is that a patriot speaking, or a wannabe dictator’s butt-boy? I’m dead serious. I’m asking, are these the words of a patriot?”

{mosads}Brzezinski’s audio appeared to be cut right after the comment in an apparent attempt to bleep it.

She later apologized on Twitter after her comment went viral on social media, calling it a “super bad” choice of words.

“Totally agree with you -SUPER BAD choice of words,” she wrote. “I should have said ‘water boy’… like for football teams or something like that.. apologize to @SenatorDurbin too! SO SORRY!”

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

The blowback against Brzezisnki on social media was substantial.

.@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

Holy shit. On Morning Joe, Mika just called #MikePompeo “a wannabe dictator’s butt boy.”

— Christopher Golden (@ChristophGolden) December 12, 2018

Why does this surprise anyone? @JoyAnnReid tossed around countless homophobic and anti-Semitic slurs & @MSNBC did nothing. By doing nothing, they sent a message that anti-Semitism and homophobia is tolerated on their network. https://t.co/aEN1iDp7rB

— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) December 12, 2018

Sooooooooooo, @morningmika, the host of national news program called the sitting Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, “wannabe dictator’s butt boy.” Never mind her insult to @realDonaldTrump (that’s a daily thing)…where is the outrage over the homophobia?

— Mike Opelka (@stuntbrain) December 12, 2018

This is disgusting! How can @KevinHart4real essentially be forced to lose his Oscar’s gig for comments he made years ago as a comedian, but Mika can make a seriously homophobic slur on a major news station, have the network try to cover it up & its not an issue? Give me a break! https://t.co/dTaBMkJa7x

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) December 12, 2018

But @morningmika hates Trump, so I guess that makes her blatant homophobia cool and acceptable to @MSNBC. https://t.co/UuYwlwId8U

— Andrew Surabian (@Surabees) December 12, 2018

Brzezinski, along with co-host and husband Joe Scarborough, have been among the network’s staunchest critics of President Trump and his administration after enjoying a friendly relationship and conducting multiple interviews with the then-candidate throughout the 2015-2016 GOP primaries. Trump and the “Morning Joe” hosts had a major falling out after the real estate mogul clinched the Republican nomination in May 2016.