Gay Groups Call On Tucker, MSNBC To Apologize For Assault Remarks

Two major gay rights groups -- the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network -- have released statements condemning remarks by MSNBC's Tucker Carlson about assaulting a man who "bothered" him in a men's room.

From GLAAD:

GLAAD Calls on Tucker Carlson, MSNBC to Apologize for Insensitive Remarks Condoning Violence

August 29, 2007

New York, Wednesday, August 29 - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today called on Tucker Carlson, NBC News and MSNBC to apologize for remarks made on Tuesday night that appear to condone violent assault.

On the Tuesday, Aug. 28 edition of "MSNBC Live with Dan Abrams" MSNBC host Tucker Carlson referenced an incident from his past when he was the recipient of an unwanted advance from another man. Carlson told program host (and MSNBC General Manager) Dan Abrams and fellow MSNBC host Joe Scarborough that after being "bothered" by a man in a restroom in a Washington, D.C., mall, Carlson returned "with someone [he] knew and grabbed the guy... and hit him against the stall with his head, actually. And then the cops came and arrested him." Abrams and Scarborough are seen chuckling throughout Carlson's telling of the story.

Earlier today, GLAAD called Abrams' office to discuss NBC News and MSNBC's response to Carlson's behavior. Abrams' office responded with an e-mailed statement attributed to Carlson, which read:

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Let me be clear about an incident I referred to on MSNBC last night: In the mid-1980s, while I was a high school student, a man physically grabbed me in a men's room in Washington, DC. I yelled, pulled away from him and ran out of the room. Twenty-five minutes later, a friend of mine and I returned to the men's room. The man was still there, presumably waiting to do to someone else what he had done to me. My friend and I seized the man and held him until a security guard arrived.

Several bloggers have characterized this is a sort of gay bashing. That's absurd, and an insult to anybody who has fought back against an unsolicited sexual attack. I wasn't angry with the man because he was gay. I was angry because he assaulted me.

The statement is not only a failed attempt to justify Carlson's advocacy of violence, but also changes key details of the previous night's on-air story. First, Carlson does not repeat his assertion that he "hit him against the stall with his head," instead changing his story to say that he "seized the man and held him down until a security guard arrived." The security guard element is also newly invented. In his on-air statement, Carlson said that "the cops came and arrested him."

"Carlson's story was difficult to watch on two levels," said GLAAD Senior Director of Media Programs Rashad Robinson. "To see someone brag on national television of returning, with an accomplice, to the scene of an unwanted advance to violently attack the person who made it is incredibly disturbing. But it was also hard to watch because of the sheer absurdity of most of what Carlson was saying."

"Whether Abrams and Scarborough were laughing with Carlson or laughing at him, the fact remains that MSNBC and NBC News have some explaining to do about their standards and practices," Robinson said. "They need to explain whether bragging about physically assaulting a man in response to an unwanted advance is appropriate on-air behavior for one of their employees, and whether laughter by two others is an appropriate on-air response."

PLEASE CONTACT NBC NEWS AND MSNBC TODAY. Ask Tucker Carlson to apologize and ask NBC News and MSNBC if Carlson's on-air comments are reflective of their network's standards and practices.

Allison Gollust

Senior Vice President of Communications, NBC News

[e-mail]

212.664.3220

Jeremy Gaines

Vice President of Communications, MSNBC

[e-mail]

201.583.5000

Leslie Schwartz

Director of Media Relations, MSNBC

[e-mail]

201.583.5000

Tucker Carlson

Host, "Tucker"

[e-mail]

201.583.5000

From GLSEN:

GLSEN Outraged by MSNBC Host Tucker Carlson's Comments About Assaulting Gay Man

GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is outraged and horrified by MSNBC host Tucker Carlson's revelation Tuesday night insinuating that as a high school student he once assaulted a man for a perceived sexual advance. GLSEN is calling on Carlson to issue an apology and disavow violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people as reprehensible and unacceptable.

"Tucker Carlson's casual acknowledgment perpetrating such a violent act is shocking and sends a dangerous message to youth that physical assault based on actual or perceived sexual orientation is acceptable," said GLSEN Deputy Executive Director Eliza Byard. "Countless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth are bullied, harassed and assaulted at school every day. MSNBC and Carlson need to make it clear that violence in this case was an unacceptable reaction."

More than a third of LGBT students (37.8%) reported being physically harassed (being pushed, shoved, etc.) at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation in GLSEN's 2005 National School Climate Survey. Additionally, 17.6% of LGBT students reported being physically assaulted (punched, kicked or injured with a weapon) in school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.

To watch the clip of Carlson's comments or learn more about the incident and others like it, visit Media Matters for America at www.mediamatters.org.

About GLSEN GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information on GLSEN's educational resources, public policy agenda, student organizing programs or development initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.

Comments

[totalliberal]

So let me get this correctly (almost said straight). A guy comes on to me in a "public" washroom and I'm supposed to say, "Sorry sir I'm not interested in sucking your cock. Could you excuse me please while I take a piss without you watching".

What the fuck kind of logic is that. I'm not anti-gay. I'm just against being accosted in a public fucking place.

Go find boy/girlfriends in private places.

[flobflo]

I've read it and I've written it: f/tucker made it up....

[Qbear]

They won't care what the hell the lawyers say if the get enough outrage, and it spreads to Tucker's advertisers. He already has the WORST ratings on MSNBC.

[larry278]

The network & its parent firm hire most skilled & expensive lawyers to give them advice. These lawyers may have advised the network to keep silent for now.

[Qbear]

DEMAND authentification of Tucker's Story from Dan Abrams,,,he is the director of MSNBC, and this foul LIE came from his show.

[taffymoon]

I saw this first hand on Dan Abrahms Aug 28 show, and although I don't care for Carlson, here is how it happened for me - the transcript probably doesn't pick up the mood in the studio. First Carlson said he had been bothered in a public washroom before in his life. Abrahms and/or Scarb started the to tease him right away - "oooh you were bothered in a washroom", as if it were something weird about Carlson. He responded by saying it was in high school, ie distancing himself from it. Abrahms and Scarb continued to goad (by teasing) him, by prodding "what did you do about it, ha ha?" That's when Carlson said he brought back friend(s) and smacked the guys head against the cubicle. It sounded like a lie (so did the high school remark) - it sounded like he was trying to out masculinate the two others. That is how this straight white girl in Canada saw it.

[hjo4]

Goodbye Tucker,you did it to yourself.N­obody could write this script.May­be you and Imus can join forces.Now this is funny!!!!

[JosephHill]

One detail of this hateful encounter I found very bizarre...­even incredible. How did Carlson and his partner in this attack manage to grab this guy "by the -- you know"? A man who considers himself in imminent danger of attack generally has nothing much to grab on to. It's an unusual man, indeed, whose '___you know' doesn't go flaccid in a situation such as that described by Carlson...­unless the victim was lured into expecting something quite different than a beating from these seductive young men.

[truthyguy]

Does anyone believe that Carlson - with or without help - could assault anyone?
He is definitely a catcher, not a pitcher.

[barrycourage]

It's the year 2050, and Tucker Carlson is in bed with his boyfriend, Ernie.

Ernie turns over to Tucker and says, “Tucker? Next week is my 80th birthday, and you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to go out and get myself a 20-year-old girlfriend. What do you think of THAT?”

Tucker turns to him and says, “Ernie, next month is my 80th birthday and when I turn 80 I’m going to go out and get myself a 20-year-old boyfriend. And let me tell you Ernie… 20 goes into 80 a helluva lot more than 80 goes into 20!”

[situationcritical]

Lame.

As in not good, and as in gold lame.

[barrycourage]

LOL

[FogBelter]

What a stupid thing for Tucker Carlson to do ... was it possibly his audition for FOX NEWS?

[Qbear]

Tucker's whole story reeks of BULLSH*T and when we prove it's a lie, the little lying SOB will be dropped kick off MSNBC.

[Trittydi]

Good.

Hey Tucker - ever proposition a woman - have her say no - and then she shows up 10 minutes with a friend - they gang up on you in a corner - grab you by the balls and bank your empty head against the nearest hard surface?

No? You think that would be overreacting? Immature? Unnecessarily aggressive and bullying behavior?

In your case it would almost be deserved.
*

[Gabrielle]

IT WOULD BE DESERVED..­.
IN FACT ,IT'S DESERVED NOW.....HE­'S SUCH A MACHO ASSHOLE

[Bernique]

Cutie Tucker has recently been trying to ingratiate himself into the liberal media scene. This will kill that avenue for him forthwith. And good riddance.

[Ginzaman]

He should do the honorable thing. Both he and Craig should resign immediately.