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Attempt to Take Down Joy Reid Backfires as LGBTQ People and Allies Offer Praise After Apology

What appeared to be an organized attempt to destroy MSNBC host Joy Reid, one of the most powerful voices on the left who has eviscerated the hypocrisy of so many conservatives, has backfired.
After a Twitter sleuth found old anti-LGBT posts on Reid’s blog, which Saturday morning she told viewers she genuinely believes she did not write, the right, the alt-right, libertarians (specifically, Glenn Greenwald) and even Wikileaks, and Fox News did their best to frame Reid as homophobic, transphobic, and a liar.
Reid opened her “AM Joy” show Saturday morning by addressing the controversy head-on. She apologized for mistakes she made in the past, and even acknowledged that while she does not believe she penned those anti-LGBT posts, she can understand those who don’t believe her.
After her opening apology and explanation, Reid hosted an impressive group of LGBT people to discuss both her remarks and challenges facing the LGBT community.
Immediately after her remarks, an outpouring of support from LGBT people, grassroots LGBT activists and leaders, allies, and journalists flooded social media, praising her for her honesty and testifying to her character.
If anything, this targeted attack has strengthened Reid’s support and credibility.
Take a look:
Here’s a personal anecdote/fact: 7 years ago after knowing me for 1 week my former boss @JoyAnnReid threw me a baby shower at NBC after I told her I was a gay man expecting a child with my lesbian best friend. #whyweneedjoy #AMJoy
— Chris Witherspoon (@WitherspoonC) April 28, 2018
Joy Reid took complete ownership of her past anti-LGBT remarks and her apology is both genuine and sincere. Her record on advancing LGBT rights is more than sound. Those still attacking her have no ground to stand on other than petty hatred or revenge. #AMJoy
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) April 28, 2018
Watching @JoyAnnReid today with great pride 🌈 (as always)
Joy, remember the positive impact we’ve shared covering #LGBTQ issues over the last decade?
Yep, I do too!! Onward ➡️#AMJoy— Thomas Roberts (@ThomasARoberts) April 28, 2018
The difference between a real apology and a fake apology is a true change in behavior. Joy Reid has spent the last decade fighting for justice for marginalized communities. No one is born fully formed. As the mom of a gay daughter, I stand with @JoyAnnReid. #AMJOY
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) April 28, 2018
Thank You @JoyAnnReid I Love You More today.
As a gay man, I forgive you for your past mistakes & am confident you and we/us will move forward, as stronger allies.
I believe you were probably hacked for latest fiasco.
Forgiveness must be part of any solution for humans. #AMJoy— John Steen (@JohnSteen) April 28, 2018
Danielle Moodie-Mills to Joy Reid: “Words do matter, and you taking responsibility for those words, that matters…Being a progressive is a practice like yoga…It is important to continue to challenge ourselves to be better than we were yesterday.” #AMJoy pic.twitter.com/O57vhFelU4
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 28, 2018
Jonathan Capehart to Joy Reid: “Joy, when this happened I was hurt…The Joy I know is someone who stands by me personally, stands by me and my husband, stands by me and my community.” #AMJoy pic.twitter.com/1YKqZts5Dg
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 28, 2018
I am inspired by my colleague and friend @joyannreid laying it all out there this morning and (as she always does) providing a platform for a candid, emotional and real conversation we can all benefit and learn from. #amjoy #lgbt
— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) April 28, 2018
The first 30 mins of #AMJoy is the most honest and inclusive conversation I’ve ever seen about LGBTQ issues. We need more of them. Especially now. #WordsMatter @JoyAnnReid @amjoyshow
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) April 28, 2018
I love this whole open to the #AMJoy show and the LGBTQ panel and the conversation and the focus on evolution and graciousness. It's really brilliant. 🙌🏾👏🏾✊🏾
— Rebecca Shuri She Ready Carroll (@rebel19) April 28, 2018
On #AMJoy @JoyAnnReid uses her opening to take ownership of her mistakes and elevate LGBTQ rights and issues with a panel of LGBTQ rights activists and lawyers.
— Atima Omara (@atima_omara) April 28, 2018
Good morning, #reiders!
I do not believe that Joy is homophobic and I stand with Joy. #AMJoy ☕️☕️☕️
— Wendy 🤦🏻♀️ (@wjw26) April 28, 2018
What Joy Reid is doing on her show right now is how you take accountability for your hurtful words and actions and more importantly open the discussion up to how those words and actions hurt others.
Kudos to her. #AMJoy
— Denizcan James (@MrFilmkritik) April 28, 2018
Hilarious to see people on right who have demonized the LGBT community and Muslims now pretend to care about both communities because they want to attack @JoyAnnReid. I can tell you firsthand that No one in the media has been more supportive of Muslims than Joy Reid! #AMJoy
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) April 28, 2018
This show will go down as one of the best for the LGBT community. Panel is outstanding. We must rid ourselves of the fanatics who can't accept these people's lives. And what guest said is true: THIS GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE WH. Why? Pence & 45. #amjoy
— Free bird (@TearsInHeaven09) April 28, 2018
Impressive #AMJoy this morning. Kudos to @JoyAnnReid for not only apologizing, but then having a serious and in-depth conversation about where some of those ignorant thoughts came from and how we evolve as a society on LGBT rights.
We need more discussions like this.
— Tim Fullerton (@TimFullerton) April 28, 2018
After this opening I don't care how ya feel, I still stand with Joy. Because no other media figure would do this. Not many celebrities period would admit they were wrong and apologize. Keep it up sista girl you truly are genuine. #AMJOY
— Tynisa the Wakandan Shaman Walker (@Kalarigamerchic) April 28, 2018
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