MSNBC's Joy Reid says no proof of blog hacking found, apologizes for past views

[Jose Garcia]

Source: NBC News

MSNBC host Joy Reid said on Saturday that she has no proof her now-defunct blog was hacked to include homophobic posts recently surfaced by an anonymous Twitter user, and she again apologized for views she'd expressed in the past.

"I genuinely do not believe I wrote those hateful things because they are completely alien to me," Reid said in an on-air monologue on her show "AM Joy" on Saturday. "But I can definitely understand based on things I have tweeted and have written in the past why some people don]t believe me. I have not been exempt from being dumb or cruel or hurtful to the very people I want to advocate for. I own that. I get it."

Earlier this month, Twitter user @Jamie_Maz, whose identity is not publicly known, published several screenshots purported to have been acquired through the Internet Archive of Reid's one-time blog, Reid Report. Reid apologized in December for "insensitive" blog posts from roughly a decade prior.



Read more: www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna869771

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If you screw up, just apologize and move on. This would have been a one day story if she had just done that.

[George II]

1. I think it's still uncertain whether she was hacked or not. But at least she didn't use the phony..

....apologetic "if anyone was offended I'm sorry" - she was very straightforward and seemed sincere.

I loved that panel discussion, too. One of the best on this issue that I've ever seen.

[PoliticAverse]

2. "I genuinely do not believe I wrote those hateful things" is the new non-denial denial I guess. n/t

[yardwork]

4. This gay person accepts her apology.

[still_one]

19. I am certainly glad no one on this board would exihibt such behavior...............

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[marshall]

55. It sounds like false memory syndrome

I thought from the first, when it was evident that hacking was highly unlikely, that she genuinely had no memory of having written or held those views. Her current self finds her past self's opinions so abhorrent that her mind protects her by blocking out the memory, and replacing it with memories that suggest to herself that she has always been as she is now.

[metalbot]

57. Oddly enough, I've written a lot of stuff I don't remember

None of it is political in nature, but I've blogged on technical topics for more than 10 years. What's really bizarre for me is that I have a lot of people who work for me now who have googled me and decided to read what I've written, and some of them refer to things I've written that I have absolutely no recollection of writing. These aren't controversial topics - just random musings on software architecture. But I could absolutely see how someone could have written something 10 years ago and think "I have absolutely no recollection of having written that..."

That being said, if I were her, I would have used this as an opportunity to talk about change. If our opinions on gay-rights were really based on "what did you grow up believing", then sodomy would still be illegal, and we absolutely would not have equal marriage rights in the US. We can't wait for everyone who hates to die off and hope that we do better with a new generation. I think the initial "maybe I was hacked" was done out of embarrassment, and the denial is actually a bigger deal than admitting to having an evolving view.

[CentralMass]

12. What? You are are glad that she didn't apologize? This really

sounds like she got bagged in a lie about her blog being hacked and that she is acknowledge that some people might not believe that she really didn't write those other bad things on her blog (that there is no evidence was hacked) because of the homophobic and bigoted things that she did say.

[George II]

13. "You are are glad that she didn't apologize?" - Where did I say anything even close to that?

Please explain.

[CentralMass]

15. "But at least she didn't use the phony.. ....apologetic "if anyone was offended I'm sorry"

[George II]

18. If you're going to misrepresent (or grossly misinterpret) what I said, please make it credible.

Thanks.

[CentralMass]

21. I didn't, I quoted you. and that statement she made was not an apology.

[George II]

22. I quoted you too - attributing something to me that I did NOT say or even imply, then....

....you came back with a irrelevant quote of mine, still claiming I said something that I didn't.

That's disingenuous, and I won't even try to figure out your motive for that.

Unless you can explain that first reply to me then we're finished here.

Enjoy the internets today.

[CentralMass]

24. What was your meaning ?

[George II]

29. So now, after twice claiming that I said something that I never said or even came close...

...to saying, you're asking me what I meant?

Hah!

[CentralMass]

33. Let me be clear. I take your statement;

"But at least she didn't use the phony.. ....apologetic "if anyone was offended I'm sorry", together with Mrs. Reids unapolgy as you being satisfied with her not apologizing.

1. She stated that there was no evidence found if hacking.. (you don't believe those words comimg out of her mouth)
2. Despite #1 she said "I genuinely do not believe I wrote those hateful things because they are completely alien to me,"
3. "But I can definitely understand based on things I have tweeted and have written in the past why some people don]t believe me. I have not been exempt from being dumb or cruel or hurtful to the very people I want to advocate for. I own that. I get it."

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

46. Attributing something to you that you didnt say... welcome to a not so exclusive club. haha!

[spooky3]

23. She did apologize wholeheartedly for things she

Believed she did say or write. But she does not believe she said or wrote other things attributed to her. If you get a chance to see a replay online, please watch it.

[George II]

30. Correct, and unfortunately now some are doing their darndest to twist and misrepresent....

....her opening statement instead of taking it for what it was.

I'm afraid nothing she said or could have said would have been satisfactory for some. Truly a sad state of affairs.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

47. I'm confused...is Joy still claiming she was hacked?

[Raster]

14. I liked Joy's opening monologue which did feature somewhat of an apology...

...which I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH. I thoroughly enjoyed the panel discussion.

I stand with Joy! It is obvious she is an ally and a friend. She is also one hell of an investigator.

[R B Garr]

26. I got the impression from that statement that she knows

of the “groups” who are stalking her and what their motives are and that was a non-accusatory, non-confrontational statement.

It was a great statement — something for everyone, but still self-deprecating. That panel was supportive, direct, and inspirational. Very well done.

[Cha]

60. Eric Holder's Tweet on Joy Reid..

Link to tweet

[onetexan]

27. agree. I for one lean on the side of her being hacked.

But i'm glad MSNBC stands by her on this one and didn't take her off the air. The RW is waging an all out war against the left on all fronts. She is clearly a victim of their onslaught.

[FreepFryer]

5. They knocked it out of the park on today's show. Listening, communicating, evolving. Go Joy! (n/t)

[heaven05]

6. Class personified

just like President Obama.....keep moving up and bringing out the real vs faux news....

[RockRaven]

7. Most people don't have the technical expertise

to develop their own opinion on the hacking or lack thereof, so they're just believing the subset of articles which arrive at the conclusion they favor anyway.

Knowing this about human nature, the reaction from day 1 should have been "this *is not* what i believe currently and i'm sorry it *was* on my blog, however it got there"

[KTM]

11. Yep.

People hear what they want to hear and disregard the rest. One thing I've always thought is that my party is the party of thinkers, but these days we see a lot of knee-jerk responses, blind support, and loyalty oaths. We are becoming them.

You are correct IMHO on what she should have done. What WE should be doing is waiting for actual evidence... apparently she has requested the FBI look into it - with that on the table, a little patience now from people on both sides of this argument should be called for.

I DO have the technical expertise, and have looked at the evidence, and all I can say is that more investigation needs to be done before any definitive conclusion can be formed.

[TNNurse]

8. I was out celebrating World Tai Chi Day and recorded it.

I am glad that I did, she and panel are impressive.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

9. True

But as many have pointed out we all evolve.

Ten years ago I wasn't in favor of gay marriage. I've since changed my stance. A couple of women I went to school with many years ago are now happily married.

Back in the day I and many on DU used the insult "Ann the man Coulter." Ann Coulter is vile enough that one doesn't need to use a transphobic insult to describe her.

[left-of-center2012]

10. Is she saying ...

Is she saying she doesn't remember, but may have said, written, those things?

"... based on things I have tweeted and have written in the past ...
I have not been exempt from being dumb or cruel or hurtful to the very people I want to advocate for."

[DeminPennswoods]

53. She just meant she's grown as a person and wouldn't

say some of the things today that she did when she was younger, and probably snarkier.

[bucolic_frolic]

16. What's most troubling

here is denying it and sending IT forensics on a wild goose chase. Not that that's not their job and I'm sure they were paid for their efforts.

'I don't remember every post I made over the last 25 years' is more plausible.

But, she evolved. In the moment things must be forgotten.

[StTimofEdenRoc]

17. I believe she made the post. She apologized. It is over.

Well all grow, or hope to grow over time.
I would also have posts on line, from long ago, that would embarrass me today.

For me anyway, it is time to forgive and move on.

[forgotmylogin]

36. Yes.

I hope people aren't conflating that forgiving past words and thoughts is not the same thing as forgiving past *actions*.

Roy Moore: "I might have hit on that underage girl so many years ago and we've all moved on..." is NOT THE SAME THING.

[Jake Stern]

41. What if, say, Rick Warren went on tv a decade from now

and said "I was wrong and I am truly sorry."?

Would you forgive and move on?

[markpkessinger]

45. Tww points . . . .

. . . First, Rick Warren has a lot more to atone for with respect to the LGBT community than a few insensitive posts from a dozen years ago. So I hardly think it is fair to use him as a point of comparison for Joy Reid.

Second, as to whether I could/would forgive Warren if he were to "sincerely" apologize, before I would be willing to accept that his apology was, indeed, sincere, I would need to see some evidence that he was also trying his best to undo some of the damage he had caused over the years. If I were genuinely persuaded that he had had a change of heart, and were seeking to make real amends, then yes, I would forgive him. But the bar would be very high.

Where Joy Reid is concerned, beyond this handful of indefensible posts, I see nothing that suggests that she holds those views today, or that she has sought to promote those views. so of course I can forgive her.

It's one thing to hold people accountable for past actions. But if we get to the point that we allow no room for people's views to evolve and grow, that will be a sad day for all of us.

[StTimofEdenRoc]

63. Yes, I would definitely try to.

[hueymahl]

51. No, it is not

Her claiming she does not remember writing the posts smells just like another lie. It really is a shame.

[meadowlander]

54. No it doesn't.

I guarantee that you could dig out ten or twenty year old shit that any person on this site has written or posted that they wouldn't recognise as their own work.

Given the pace of current events, I barely remember stuff I wrote three weeks ago.

The point is that she owned it, apologised and acknowledged that that isn't how she feels or thinks anymore. So what is the point and who benefits from continuing to pick at this particular scab?

[StTimofEdenRoc]

61. Do you remember every post you did 10 years ago ? I sure don't.

[Dopers_Greed]

20. She's getting Al Franken'ed

Her comments are 1% of what the right wing says on a daily basis.

[jalan48]

25. No, Al Frankened would be if Al claimed the photo of him with his hands on the breasts of a

sleeping woman was photo shopped. He never claimed any photos or posts "were hacked" or asked the FBI to investigate.

[Loki Liesmith]

32. Well there wasn't any such photo of Franken

[jalan48]

37. There was a photo taken of Franken on an Air Force plane with his hands hovering over

a fellow comedian's breasts. Many of us assumed it was simply inappropriate behavior meant as a joke while others saw it as more than that. He made no claim that the photo was part of some kind of hacking or photo shopping.

[Dennis Donovan]

34. His hands never touched this person's breasts

...this has been re-litigated to death

[jalan48]

38. The point is that he didn't claim the photo was somehow photo shopped. Joy isn't getting

Frankned.

[brooklynite]

62. You could argue that she was Frankened in that they both apologized for hurtful behavior...

[donco]

28. We all

do **** we regret later in life.To those that don't understand this get over it!

[Trust Buster]

31. She made this an unecessarily drawn out story.

[sharedvalues]

35. Good for her. Straight apology. Thanks, Joy.

[Pepsidog]

39. sounds good Joy, now get the F off her back. No ones perfect

[BobTheSubgenius]

40. Am I disappointed to learn this?

Disappointed, yes. Crushed, no. I believe in who she is now.

[wonkwest]

42. I believe she wrote them, and I accept her ownership of it

I said in a previous post her best course of action would be if she owned it, apologized, and then used her media platform to address the issues the old posts brought up.

She did precisely that. Very good for her. I thank her for coming clean.

For me, I consider the matter closed.

I hope her fans who reflexively defended the hacking story, dismissed the seriousness of the homophobia expressed, straightsplained to LGBTers why they're wrong or dupes or whatever, and basically diminished our lives and our community spend some time reflecting on their behavior this week.

Joy is now acting with great integrity by owning her mistakes. Her fans need to look inward at their own words and actions and do likewise. This week was plain ugly as far as how a lot of liberals treated my community and my family.

[Duncan Grant]

52. We never got around to discussing privilege, did we?

Welcome to DU - I appreciate your recent posts.

[QC]

56. No, but we've gotten a lot of excellent straightsplainin' these past few days. n/t

[wonkwest]

64. Thanks!

I don't think this topic is going to engender any soul-searching about straight privilege unfortunately.

People seem incredibly dug in.

[leftofcool]

43. You opinion means nothing to me so I stand with Joy

[Dennis Donovan]

48. ?

[Mr. Ected]

44. Joy Reid is in a unique position to advocate to an audience of tens of millions

For the very people who are so disappointed in her right now.

We're all human. If a plea for forgiveness is genuine and heartfelt, and buttressed by demonstrable efforts thereafter to make right and prove one's integrity on the issue, and their authentic evolution, why would we, as progressives, wish to relegate them to the trash bin of history?

There are enemies. And then there are ENEMIES.

If we can't distinguish between the two, perhaps some inner reflection is in order.

[Dennis Donovan]

49. Joy is a GREAT journalist who strives to lay down the truth...

She addressed this today, and I accept her explanation. She has my backing...

[Cha]

58. Excellent points, Mr Ected. Joy is now in

".. a unique position to advocate for those who are disappointed in her right now".

I have no doubt she will..

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Cha]

59. I stand with Joy and Rachel Maddow. Eric Holder, and

all those who don't want Joy's Voice Silenced.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet