But No Apology
Fox News apparently is becoming more sensitive to the activities of their on-air staff after losing Bill O’Reilly over his alleged sexual harassment of at least seven women. A Fox News publicist who identified herself as “Fox News PR” sent NCRM an email Wednesday morning asking us to update our story about Jesse Watters, a newly-promoted co-host on its newly-promoted to primetime show “The Five,” after he made on-air what certainly sounded like a thinly-veiled oral sex “joke” about Ivanka Trump Tuesday night.
We’re not going to repeat the “joke” because it was juvenile and as some have called it, frat-boy-ish, but suffice it to say he made it after blasting liberals at a women’s conference in Berlin (even though he had no idea who was in the audience) for hissing and booing the First Daughter.Â
You can see the video and our original story here.
Here’s Fox News Channel’s Jesse Watters’ statement:
“During the break we were commenting on Ivanka’s voice and how it was low and steady and resonates like a smooth jazz radio DJ. This was in no way a joke about anything else.”Â
Note there is no apology, not even any recognition that what he said was inappropriate.
So we’ve prepared the statement Watters should have released, if what he says is true, but didn’t.
“I apologize to Ivanka Trump, to our Fox News viewers, and to all women, who deserve my unyielding respect. I should have realized that my remarks could be perceived as making an inappropriate ‘joke’ about Ivanka Trump, the President’s daughter. I should not even have been talking about Ivanka Trump’s voice off-camera, as it has nothing to do with her remarks at the W20. I should have realized that my off-camera remarks would not have been heard by viewers, leaving my on-camera remarks to sound grossly inappropriate. I find that once again I am forced to apologize for inappropriate remarks I’ve made on-air. I recognize I must do better, and that Fox News viewers and indeed all Americans deserve professionalism from me and everyone here at the network. Again, I’m sorry.”
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