LATE UPDATE 2:25 p.m. ET: O’Reilly apologized for the remark in a statement, calling it “stupid.
“As I have said many times, I respect Congresswoman Maxine Waters for being sincere in her beliefs,” O’Reilly said. “I said that again today on Fox & Friends calling her ‘old school.’ Unfortunately, I also made a jest about her hair which was dumb. I apologize.”
Original Story
Fox News host Bill O’Reilly dismissed Rep. Maxine Waters’ criticisms (D-CA) of President Donald Trump Tuesday because of how her hair looks.
“Fox and Friends” played a clip of Waters’ speech railing against Trump, in which she called the President “dangerous.”
“We stand up for America oftentimes when others who think they are more patriotic, who say they are more patriotic, do not,” she said. “When we fight against this President, and we point out how dangerous he is for this society and for this country, we’re fighting for the democracy.”
As the clip played, O’Reilly shook his head at Waters and smirked, mouthing “right on” and raising his fist. When the clip was over, a host asked O’Reilly what he thought.
“I didn’t hear a word she said. I was looking at the James Brown wig,” he said.
As the male hosts laughed, host Ainsley Earhardt defended Waters, saying that she doesn’t think it’s fair to go after a woman’s looks.
“I have to defend her on that. You can’t go after a woman’s looks,” she said. “I think she’s very attractive!”
“I didn’t say she wasn’t attractive,” O’Reilly countered. “I love James Brown! But it’s the same hair that James Brown, the godfather of soul, had.”
Watch the clip below: