Appearing at the top of his Wednesday show, Schultz said that calling Ingraham a "right-wing slut" on his Tuesday radio show was "vile and inappropriate," and apologized unreservedly to her, as well as to his wife, his family and MSNBC.
"I am deeply sorry, and I apologize," he said. "It was wrong, uncalled for and I recognize the severity of what I said."
After learning of the comments, MSNBC met with Schultz and the two sides agreed that he would be suspended for a week without pay from his program. It marks the third such punishment that the network has meted out to a host in the last year. In November, both Keith Olbermann and Joe Scarborough were suspended for violating MSNBC's policy about political donations. (Olbermann, of course, is no longer with the network.)
However, Schultz's punishement is more severe; neither Scarborough nor Olbermann were suspended for something they said, let alone something they said on a non-MSNBC program, and both spent fewer days off the air than Schultz will.
Schultz called the situation "the lowest of low for me," and said, "I have never been in this position before to the point where it has affected so many people." He revealed that had tried to contact Ingraham but could not reach her.
Ingraham did respond on Facebook and Twitter, where she wrote, "MSNBC suspends Schultz. Oh great, now his ratings will go up."
After finishing his apology, Schultz handed the program off to Thomas Roberts--the same person who filled in for Olbermann when he was suspended.
When your passion turns to hate, you say stupid things! The talking-heads and of course the politicians are so busy throwing stones at each others glass houses occasionally there is collateral damage. If we could lose the need to shock; control the urge to defame, and maintain control of our passion, the airwaves would be a lot friendlier. I think name-calling like this is disgusting. Is this the fifth grade? Ed you can make your point without calling someone a slut. What if Laura Ingram was your sister, or your mother, or your wife, and some joker with a radio show, decided to call one of them a slut. You are a disgrace to broadcasters. If I was Chris Mathews or Anderson Cooper I would vote you out of the club!
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