UPDATE March 28, 2017 at 11:26 a.m. PT: Bill O'Reilly has issued the following apology following his remarks about Maxine Waters.
"As I have said many times, I respect Congresswoman Maxine Waters for being sincere in her beliefs. 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." -- Bill O'Reilly
Original story below.
Bill O'Reilly is under fire for comments he made Tuesday about Congresswoman Maxine Waters' appearance.
While speaking to "Fox and Friends" about the Democrat's fiery house floor comments about Donald Trump, the "O'Reilly Factor' host criticized Waters' hair and not what she had to say.
"I didn't hear a word she said, I was looking at the James Brown wig," he said to elicited laughter.
"I defend her on that. You can't go after a woman's looks," host Ainsley Earhardt shot back.
"I didn't say she wasn't attractive, I love James Brown," O'Reilly responded. "But it's the same hair, James Brown, the godfather of soul had."
He did go on to call Waters a "sincere individual" who's "not a phony" and invited her to appear on his show. "When hell freezes over, I'm sure that'll happen," he added.
After his comments started trending on Twitter, Zendaya, Sophia Bush and Debra Messing slammed O'Reilly.
Bill O'Reilly is an asshole. A racist, misogynistic asshole.
@SophiaBush
Bill O'Reilly DISGUSTING RACIST INSULT ABOUT REP.MAXINE WATERS😡😡😡 @JoyAnnReid https://t.co/n4oLYxnmmf
@DebraMessing
This is so disrespectful https://t.co/5ixfE16HNS
@Zendaya
See more of the backlash his comments sparked below:
Bill O'Reilly, your racist is showing. https://t.co/9AR3QjB4Q9
@ingridmusic
When your hair is as beautiful as Bill O'Reilly's ... https://t.co/DeALPwmM3U
@Lawrence
Ah, the spectacle of white dudes like @oreillyfactor exposing their deep disdain for #women and #PeopleOfColor that's been there all along. https://t.co/WlRKByxiZF
@mominLAcity
Are you jealous of people that actually have hair @oreillyfactor? Aww. https://t.co/m8gKc04WDY
@mikeracanelli
Lifetime of public service, 26 years in Congress, Ranking Member @FSCDems. And this is the respect she gets in 2017. Shame on @oreillyfactor https://t.co/x2jUSSkHV5
@wyattlarkin
Go straight to hell, @oreillyfactor. Straight 👏🏽 to 👏🏽hell! #keepMAXINEoutyourmouth https://t.co/7Myh3KJuIh
@angela_rye
Good thing no one accused @oreillyfactor of having any class or respect for those he disagrees with. https://t.co/BpjJMIyisL
@spindoctormario
@Lawrence @yashar I didn't hear a word @oreillyfactor said. I was looking at the hemorrhoid mask he was wearing.
@SeeDaneRun
Classy, @oreillyfactor -- and exactly what does @realDonaldTrump's hair looks like? Hmmm... https://t.co/eivAy5ANwt
@gmcustodio
@oreillyfactor don't mess with Auntie @MaxineWaters and don't play with a black woman's hair. That's a big 🙅🏾 https://t.co/EjkVIM9y1S
@Salt_light517
Classy, @oreillyfactor. 🙄 Commenting on a woman's appearance as a way to demean her is pathetic but I wouldn't expect much more from you. https://t.co/c4cx2722qo
@JessLN13
Wow. I didn't think @oreillyfactor could get worse. Creepy, racist Irish uncle mom says you don't have to hug. https://t.co/6GUbP9W2u6
@NosyShihtzu
@oreillyfactor saying racist, ignorant things isn't new, unfortunately. pic.twitter.com/wDWG1EY9gP
@steviedactyl
When you're as racist as @oreillyfactor, this is a perfectly acceptable reason to shut up a black woman. https://t.co/0wqb6ZxzXf
@fawfulfan
@OhNoSheTwitnt We LOVE Maxine! Shut your pie hole Bill O'Reilly. There are no words for how we feel about your looks
@CoSandy49333598
Instead of rebutting her, Bill O'Reilly made a cheap racist remark about Maxine Waters' hair. He gotta go. #FireBill pic.twitter.com/etNc2GVxs9
@seankent
There was at least one person who agreed with him, tweeting out this comparison:
ICYMI: Bill O'Reilly Compared Maxine Waters Hair To James Brown's Wig. Prepare For Liberal Butthurt... But I Totally Agree👍#FoxAndFriends pic.twitter.com/I7A9sy9Pua
@MediaJuggernaut
Waters is known for her take-no-prisoners attitude, but so far hasn't commented on his remarks. Stay tuned ...
