When MSNBC’s “Way Too Early” show decided to display its cultural sensitivity on Cinco De Mayo, it went full-on cringe-inducing. A sombrero-wearing producer paraded in front of the camera while shaking maracas and swilling tequila straight from the bottle. All of this above a chyron calling Cinco de Mayo a “Mexican Heritage Celebration.”
https://twitter.com/reallyandrea/status/463792102174773248
It didn’t take long for the outrage machine to go to work:
@HugoBalta @NBCLOU @ThomasARoberts @NAHJ incredibly shameful, we stand w/our fellow #NAHJ members to demand public apology & accountability
— Latino Rebels (@latinorebels) May 6, 2014
@ThomasARoberts How would U like if people stereotyped #Gay men? Wrong-right? Shame on U 4 taking part in that #CincodeMayo segment.
— Rebecca Aguilar (@RebeccaAguilar) May 6, 2014
So incredibly disappointed in @ThomasARoberts' Cinco de Mayo skit. I expected that from FOX, not from you or MSNBC. Absolutely awful.
— Nathan (@SinisterThings) May 6, 2014
https://twitter.com/nateog/status/463545859141943296
@wiselatinaslink Suspended? @msnbc should fire both @NBCLOU and @ThomasARoberts now!
— Daniel Arreola (@ArreolaSport) May 6, 2014
https://twitter.com/nateog/status/463542708905058305
@nateog Time to fire #WayTooEarly @ThomasARoberts @NBCLOU and @msnbc team for today's racist #CincoDeMayo routine. Just despicable.
— CCNC National (@CCNCnational) May 6, 2014
.@ThomasARoberts @NBCLOU @msnbc Why are you racist against Mexicans?
— ?It's?Almost ⛄️Christmas? (@jtLOL) May 5, 2014
@ThomasARoberts @NBCLOU @msnbc Racist.
— smoochacha (@smoochacha) May 5, 2014
@ThomasARoberts @NBCLOU @msnbc so Mexican heritage is sombreros and tequila?
— Brammy (@RyanBramhall1) May 5, 2014
https://twitter.com/xinemd/status/463366535818407936
@jtLOL @ThomasARoberts @NBCLOU @msnbc If Fox had done this they'd be screaming racist for days.
— smoochacha (@smoochacha) May 5, 2014
Eventually, MSNBC had to issue an apology:
UPDATE #msnbc ISSUES APOLOGY: EP Alex Korson "It was not intention to b disrespectful and we sincerely apologize for the references " @NAHJ
— Hugo Balta ? (@HugoBalta) May 6, 2014
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/statuses/463716569499975681
On Monday, Cinco De Mayo, ‘Way Too Early’ made sarcastic references to the way some Americans celebrate the holiday. (Continued)
— Thomas Roberts, FMR #MSNBC NewsAnchor #ProfAvailRN (@ThomasARoberts) May 6, 2014
….It was not our intention to be disrespectful and we sincerely apologize for the ill-advised references
— Thomas Roberts, FMR #MSNBC NewsAnchor #ProfAvailRN (@ThomasARoberts) May 6, 2014
"On Monday, Cinco De Mayo, ‘Way Too Early’ made sarcastic references to the way some Americans celebrate the holiday. (continued)
— Louis Burgdorf (@LouisjBurgdorf) May 6, 2014
It was not our intention to be disrespectful and we sincerely apologize for the ill-advised references."
— Louis Burgdorf (@LouisjBurgdorf) May 6, 2014
Sincerity:
How sincere is @ThomasARoberts & @NBCLOU "Copy & paste" apology 4 insulting @msnbc #CincodeMayo segment? pic.twitter.com/gw7V9LgC2X
— Rebecca Aguilar (@RebeccaAguilar) May 6, 2014
Now just imagine if Fox News anchors had done something similar. They’d have been tarred and feathered, fired, and exiled to a barren island in the middle of the Pacific. But as you well know, being liberal means you can get away with copy-and-paste excuses and a brief on-air apology no matter the offense.
https://twitter.com/CalebHowe/status/463989006980505602
Sincere or not, there’s something incredibly delicious about every MSNBC apology tour.
@CalebHowe I just love MSNBC apologies! Wonder what the next one will be for?
— Matty Matt (@Bam540) May 7, 2014
https://twitter.com/CalebHowe/status/463996016291631104
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