MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry and the panelists on her Sunday morning show drew criticism Monday for poking fun at a Romney family photo that included their adopted African-American grandson, Kieran Romney.
Harris-Perry had the panelists attempt to caption a Romney family photo, which included all of Mitt Romney’s grandchildren.
Harris-Perry joked that Kieran Romney would marry Kanye West’s daughter, North West.
“Could you imagine Mitt Romney and Kanye West as in-laws?” she asked.
Panelist and comedian Dean Obeidallah said the photo “really sums up the diversity of the Republican party.” And actress Pia Glenn started singing “one of these things is not like the other.”
Former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) called the jokes inappropriate.
MSNBC should apologize for this wildly inappropriate incident. Viewers and the Romney family deserve better: http://t.co/hLRfourxvJ
— Scott P. Brown (@SenScottBrown) December 30, 2013
Stuart Stevens, former advisor on the Romney presidential campaign, criticized MSNBC for promoting hateful opinions.
MSNBC has become a club where the smug go to exchange hateful opinions and reassure each other it’s acceptable. http://t.co/NVzFLyuTvV
— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) December 30, 2013
Pia Glenn on Monday defended her joke about the Romney family photo, arguing that she was not making fun of Kieran.
@ritescenter Yes,I sang the song. There are many children in the pic & only 1 black child. I don’t see that as mocking or attacking the baby
— Pia Glenn (@PiaGlenn) December 30, 2013
Watch the segment via MSNBC:
