Following criticism, Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly is apologizing for his comment on his show last night about Rep. Maxine Waters wearing a “James Brown wig.”
“As I have said many times, I respect Congresswoman Maxine Waters for being sincere in her beliefs. I said that again today on Fox & Friends, calling her old-school. Unfortunately, I also made a jest about her hair which was dumb. I apologize,” O’Reilly said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Fox & Friends played a clip of Waters speaking in the House of Representatives. After the clip was done O’Reilly remarked, “I didn’t hear a word she said. I was looking at the James Brown wig. Do we have a picture of James Brown? It’s the same wig.”
Ainsley Earhardt scolded O’Reilly. “I have to defend her on that,” she said. “You can’t go after a woman’s looks. I think she’s very attractive.”
“I didn’t say she wasn’t attractive. I love James Brown but it’s the same hair James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, had,” said O’Reilly, before complimenting Waters for her sincerity.
Later on Tuesday, Waters took to Twitter to respond: “I am a strong black woman. I cannot be intimidated, and I’m not going anywhere. #BlackWomenAtWork.”
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