WASHINGTON — MSNBC suspended host Ed Schultz for a week Wednesday after Schultz called rival pundit Laura Ingraham “a right-wing slut” during a radio broadcast Tuesday.
Schultz apologized for the comment on his TV program, “The Ed Show,” on Wednesday night, saying he had used “vile and inappropriate language” in referring to Ingraham.
“I am deeply sorry, and I apologize,” he said. “It was wrong, uncalled for, and I recognize the severity of what I said. I apologize to you, Laura, and ask for your forgiveness.”
In addition to his hour-long program on MSNBC, Schultz hosts a nationally syndicated radio program.
Schultz’s slur was a response to Ingraham’s criticism of President Barack Obama’s trip to Ireland. Ingraham had noted that Obama was touring Ireland while devastating tornadoes were hitting the United States, including one that killed more than 100 people in Joplin, Mo.
“President Obama is going to be visiting Joplin, Mo., on Sunday, but you know what (Republicans are) talking about, like this right-wing slut, what’s her name? Laura Ingraham?” Schultz said on the air. “Yeah, she’s a talk slut. You see, she was, back in the day, praising President Reagan when he was drinking a beer overseas. But now that Obama’s doing it, they’re working him over.”
On her Facebook page, Ingraham wrote, “Now I’m tempted to insert one additional zing . . . about men who preach civility but practice misogyny.”
Schultz is the third MSNBC anchor-host to be suspended in the past year.
