Chris Matthews addresses controversy during return to MSNBC: 'I did something wrong'

[babylonsister]

Chris Matthews addresses controversy during return to MSNBC: 'I did something wrong'
Yahoo TV
Stephen Proctor
June 2, 2021, 2:32 AM
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Former MSNBC host Chris Matthews returned to his old time slot on Tuesday, appearing on The ReidOut, where he spoke about leaving the network amid controversy. Matthews abruptly retired last March after allegations of inappropriate behavior surfaced. Matthews was accused of flirting with a female journalist who had appeared on his show multiple times going back to 2016.

“I think the reason I — I know the reason I left, somebody reported that I complimented somebody — actually, I’m gonna use the right words here. I commented, remarked on somebody’s appearance in the makeup room, and I shouldn’t have done that,” Matthews said. “Nobody has to come defend me. And by the way, I kept all my friends, but nobody needs to defend me. I did something wrong. So I'm going to move on from that. I took ownership of it, using a nice modern phrase. I took complete ownership. I did not deny it. I lost my show over it. That's it. So that's the truth.”

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https://www.aol.com/entertainment/chris-matthews-addresses-controversy-during-063201002.html

[Goodheart]

1. Who knows if he crossed the line, but THIS I know

I'm happy he's gone as a host because I couldn't bear him as an interviewer. He was awful, full of himself, asking questions but never allowing his guests to complete their answers before jumping in with another question or remark.

[lagomorph777]

27. Yeah, regardless of his backstage conduct, he was awful on camera.

[Evergreen Emerald]

2. I miss Tweety.

I know he sometimes does not stop talking and interrupts. But, he knows politics.

[malaise]

4. He sure knows politics

and while he was progressive on some matters, that admiration for Bush during the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq remained a problem. A lot of hosts interrupt guests. I like Ari but he interrupts people all the time because he's obsessed with controlling the program.

[JoanofArgh]

6. Ari also makes a dismissive "hmmph" noise sometimes when

his guests comment which drives me nuts.

[malaise]

8. Yes

[Paladin]

12. Better a "hmmph" than his spewing rap lyrics.

Ari needs to suffer the same fate as Matthews.

[JoanofArgh]

18. Lol, that annoys me, too!

[PCIntern]

31. It REALLY annoyed John Oliver!

[JonAndKatePlusABird]

9. I sense that Ari's a micromanager

He seems like he’d be a pain to work with.

Once during the handover from MTP to his show, a pair of hands emerged on screen with a tray of coffees. Ari became sarcastic and indignant, saying “uh you KNOW you’re on TV when you do that right?” It was in a sneering, rude tone.

Katy Tur was hosting Chuck’s show that night, and she chided Ari, telling him to be nice to the folks working for him. He even tried to defend his comments! But Katy was just like “no, Ari. Come on. Be nice.”

[malaise]

10. I don't know if he's a pain in the ass

but he sure does micromanage

[secondwind]

15. Same here.

[Kahuna]

35. So do I. I watched him when he was on CNBC. I watched when he..

was co host with Dee Dee Myers.

[Voltaire2]

5. awww is his rich white guy time out over?

It is so difficult to be a rich white guy these days. But he will struggle through.

[JonAndKatePlusABird]

7. Glad he's out, the TV world can do with fewer shouty white men

Absolutely can’t stand his demeanor and schtick, and I always got major diva vibes from him.

On the 20th anniversary of his show, right before he got axed, they dedicated an entire week to “celebrate.” Reminded me of that Trump cabinet meeting where everyone had to praise and give thanks to Dear Leader. Just very self-indulgent and pointless.

Hey Chris, there’s a show on TV that’s been on much longer than you, much more entertaining, and in the same timeslot…it’s called Wheel of Fortune. Guests also seem to have a better time on that show, at least they were allowed to speak.

I also never liked the way he always referred to his wife as “his QUEEN” (emphasis his). Any time there’s that over-the-top, putting-someone-on-a-pedestal talk, I’m going to wonder.

Even when he got the axe, he did it in an unprofessional, me-me-me way, basically saying “peace out MFers” and going to commercial. Steve Kornacki looked shellshocked and did an admirable job hosting the show for the hour. But the fact that it seemed like a total surprise to him further indicated to me that Chris Matthew’s doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself, much less his hapless crew.

Good riddance.

[Paladin]

14. Well said. Good riddance, indeed, to a major irritant. (nt)

[dsc]

11. His treatment of women politicians over the years was frankly disgraceful

He was a sexist pig and tv is better off without him.

[bigtree]

13. he pines for an American era when things went swimmingly for him and his heroes

Last edited Wed Jun 2, 2021, 09:46 AM - Edit history (2)

...who coincidently resemble him.

You can always sense that when he spoke about the past in the last decade. This longing for a time when many Americans were not advantaged with the rights he enjoyed, and he just doesn't seem to grip that much of that greatness he describes was on the backs of oppressed communities and individuals lacking voting rights and more.

That may not be fair to him, but it's nauseating to hear him wax nostalgic about that sordid era he grew up in.

...he really lost me here, describing the Obamas:

“Don’t you feel, I think everybody feels an absence of communication from the time he’s been elected. And it’s not about not being left-wing enough or too left. That’s not his problem. It’s connection. And Mrs. Obama, she’s an amazing asset. And what has she done? Obesity? How about connecting with the American people about being Americans? I don‘t think she’s, I don‘t think she’s happy. I don’t think they like being in the White House. The American people can tell that. They don’t seem thrilled at the fact the American people have selected them as our first family. I don’t sense the gratitude, the happiness level, the thrill of being president. Bill Clinton loved being president every minute and you knew it.”
https://www.businessinsider.com/the-lastest-explanation-for-obamas-troubles-is-that-he-hates-being-president-2011-11

One observer called it 'boomer grandiosity.'

"In the standard D.C. nostalgist’s narrative, this battery of traits is usually held together by sheer force of personality—the cowboy capitalist reveries of Ronald Reagan or the New Frontier transports of John F. Kennedy. So it’s no great surprise that Matthews has titled his memoir This Country: There’s precious little of his own life story that he doesn’t see reflected in the saga of the American republic’s journey toward redemption, and vice versa. The same Boomer grandiosity clearly informs the book’s subtitle: We all, in one sense, have lives “in history,” but Matthews is clearly referencing capital-h History here—the stuff that all those bumptious-yet-civil pols were ruminating on, and transforming, in their many epic campaign appeals and cloakroom confabs."
https://newrepublic.com/article/162563/chris-matthews-learned-washington-this-country-memoir-review

[Act_of_Reparation]

34. I'm less generous.

He seems more cynical than that, like his chief interest was cultivating relationships with powerful people and succeeding vicariously through them.

[uponit7771]

16. He did more than just compliment someone to get fired

[Tomconroy]

17. I liked Chris and I miss him.

[Poeraria]

21. I agree. A bit awkward as an interviewer, but always has a contribution to a subject.

He was neck deep in the workings of the Democratic party and had a unique seat at the table of history. Congressional staffer, Chief of Staff for Speaker Tip O'Neil during the Reagan days, speech writer for Carter. Oh the stories he must have...

[tavernier]

24. Me too. Pissed me off at times

but he sure beat Andrea and Chuckie.

[themaguffin]

33. Me too. Yes, he is flawed, but he was genuinely passionate about the issues

[panader0]

19. Tweety's hard on for Bush's "Mission Accomplished" gig did it for me.

And he spit and interrupted too much.

[Paladin]

26. "Mission Accomplished," spitting and interruptions.

Those, plus his endless hyping of his fucking books. Glad he's gone.

[Scrivener7]

20. He's a horrible sexist. It's time for that kind of guy to fade away.

[Poeraria]

22. Malarkey.

[Scrivener7]

37. Doorknobs.

[Polly Hennessey]

23. Complimenting a woman is now grounds

for firing? There must be more. Perhaps a lewd compliment? Is there such a thing. I loved receiving compliments, especially from my future husband. Color me confused.

[Tomconroy]

25. It really didn't seem like very much. Lower ratings

May ultimately have played a role.

[LiberalFighter]

28. We are all better off without him.

[Iggo]

29. That's what all these gross dudes say: "I was just giving you a compliment!"

No different than a racist bigot saying “I was just being honest!”

Fuck that guy.

[Scrivener7]

38. Or the ever popular: I was just joking! It was a joke!

[bullwinkle428]

30. Doesn't exactly sound like he's filled with contrition. For example...

“Nobody has to come defend me"

Sounds a bit more like a persecution complex to me. Disturbingly similar to MTG, following the pushback she received after her Holocaust comments.

[Sibelius Fan]

32. Typical for Tweety, he didn't allow Joy to get a word in edgewise during that

“Interview.” What we saw was a year’s-plus of pent-up Tweetyisms unleashed on his unsuspecting host.

[JHB]

36. Chris, you did plenty of things wrong, and they built up to the point where...

...the network didn't have to deal with any lawsuits. They didn't decide that based on an isolated incident.

Own that.

[Nexus2]

39. Personally, I enjoyed him and was sorry to see the show go.

I am curious exactly what the comment, compliment or whatever exactly was?

[BannonsLiver]

40. I like that he annoys people that annoy me

That said, cable news is for the joyless.

[SoonerPride]

41. He is not missed by me.

I used to watch and often thought he was rude to guests and wouldn't let them speak.

I wish him no specific ill will, but I certainly do not miss seeing or hearing from him.

He can stay gone.

[UTUSN]

42. Translation: "So stop talking about it now."