It seemed like Bill O'Reilly has mocked Rep. Maxine Waters of California on "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday for comparing her hair to James Brown’s wig. In the show’s segment, it featured a replay of the U.S. representative’s speech about Donald Trump on the House Floor, while the Fox News host looked like making fun of her.
In a smaller window, the 67-year-old journalist’s face is visible while people are watching the congresswoman on the screen. Here, he can be seen smiling, pumping his fist, and silently saying something in response to the 78-year-old Africa-American politician’s claims.
Veteran journalist mocks congresswoman’s hair
"I — I didn't hear a word she said. I was looking at the James Brown wig," O'Reilly told his questioning colleagues. One of the show’s hosts Brian Kilmeade said that the wig is the same one like Brown’s, but the late singer is not using it anymore and buried it with him.
Another host Ainsley Earhardt defended Waters telling O'Reilly that he “can’t go after a woman’s looks.” The syndicated columnist then said that he didn’t say that the congresswoman is not attractive, but only saying that she has the same hair like Brown.
And as his statement about Waters’ hair quickly gone viral, a lot of people react and described O'Reilly for being a “sexist, openly racist,” and his comments is certainly “uncalled for.”
U.S. Representative responds to the host
Meanwhile, Waters responded to O'Reilly’s comments about her hair.
Although she doesn’t want to entertain his statement, she said in an interview on MSNBC that she can’t be intimidated by "right-wing talking heads."
“I'm a strong black woman and I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be undermined,” she said. She, too, added that she can’t be thought to be afraid of anyone, not even O'Reilly or anybody.
She then gave her gratitude to Hillary Clinton for “standing up for all women” and encouraging other minority women to stand up against anyone who is belittling them.
O'Reilly, on the other hand, realized his mistake and gave his sincerest apologies, saying that his statement is plainly “stupid.” “I said it in simple jest that the congresswoman's hair distracted me. Well, that was stupid and I apologize. It had no place in the conversation,” he said on his own show "The O'Reilly Factor."
