Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) hit back after Fox News host Bill O’Reilly’s jab at her hair Wednesday, saying she’s a “strong black woman” and who will not be “undermined.”
During an interview on MSNBC, Waters said that she didn’t want to respond to O’Reilly’s comments about her hair, but wanted to assert her own strength and her pride at being a “strong black woman.” She also encouraged other women not to be scared off by “right-wing talking heads.”
“Let me say this, I’m a strong black woman and I cannot be intimidated,” she said. “I cannot be undermined. I cannot be thought to be a friend of Bill O’Reilly or anybody. And I’d like to say to women out there everywhere, don’t allow these right-wing talking heads, these dishonorable people, to intimidate you or scare you. Be who you are, do what you do, and let us get on with discussing the real issues of this country.”
O’Reilly made headlines Tuesday after appearing on “Fox and Friends” and responding to Waters’ speech about President Donald Trump with a comment about her “James Brown wig.” He later apologized and called the comment “stupid.”
Waters said O’Reilly and former Fox News boss Roger Ailes have “no credibility’ because they have had to settle harassment lawsuits. Ailes was notably the subject of a harassment lawsuit by former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson at the time of his departure from the network, which was then settled for a reported $20 million. Fox also struck a secret, six-figure settlement agreement with former host Juliet Huddy, who accused O’Reilly of sexual harassment just weeks Ailes resigned.
“Bill O’Reilly and Roger Ailes have no credibility,” she said. “They have been sued by women. They’ve had to pay millions out in bonds for harassment and other kind of things. So we know about that checkered past, we also know that when a woman stands up and speaks truth to power that there will be attempt to put her down. And so, I’m not going to be put down, I’m not going to go anywhere. I’m going to stay on the issues.”
