It's no secret that conservative hosts on Fox News are not the biggest fans of Democratic lawmakers. However, after one host made what is being called a racially charged insult about a female African-American congresswoman, the network is now being pressured to put their foot down.
O'Reilly, out?
Ever since the election of Donald Trump last November, the tension between the political left and right has only increased.
Whether it's voters on the ground, politicians in Washington D.C., or cable news hosts on television, the gap in politics is only widening between liberals and conservatives. As the scandal involving Russia and the White House heats up, Democrats have predicted the potential impeachment of the former host of "The Apprentice." One of Trump's most vocal critics is California Rep. Maxine Waters. During Tuesday morning's edition of "Fox & Friends," Fox News host Bill O'Reilly joined the show and insulted Waters after a clip was played of recent remarks she made about the president. In response, critics are calling for Fox News to fire O'Reilly on grounds of racism.
"I didn’t hear a word she said, I was looking at the James Brown Wig," Bill O'Reilly said of Maxine Waters. O'Reilly went on to say that he "loves" Waters and thinks she's a "sincere individual," but just doesn't agree with her politics. In the hours since the broadcast aired, social media has lit up in opposition, despite O'Reilly releasing an apology.
"Does Fox News have a standards and practices department? Because there's not a news organization I know of where this could fly," MSNBC host Joy Reid tweeted out. In a follow up tweet, Reid cited an incident where radio host Don Imus was fired for making a racially charged comment about the hair of African-American women on the Rutgers basketball team.
Increased pressure
Film producer Jordan Horowitz was also not pleased, and demanded Fox News remove Bill O'Reilly from their channel. "Dear Fox News: Bill O'Reilly is racist and should be removed from your airwaves. Vile," he wrote on his Twitter account.
Actor George Takei also chimed in on the issue with a tweet of his own. "Bill O'Reilly is coming for Rep. Maxine Waters--by making racist jokes about her hair. That tells you all you need to know about him," Takei wrote. Social media users continued to lash out, as the O'Reilly/Waters incident began to trend on Twitter.