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

[fatmex]

I hope it is his Imus moment. Personally, I don't even believe him that the incident ever occurred. I thought the most offensive thing was that he asked the gay community to disavow these types of incidents. I doubt he's ever asked the straight community to disavow the actions each time that a woman is raped.

I'm straight. Or should I say I AM NOT GAY!

[WTFbush]

Wouldn't the right thing to do, be to call on Tucker to simply kill himself?

[googlymoogly]

Before killing himself he sould get a haircut and learn how to speak english. All the ums, but ahs, you knows and I means are ponderous.

[MrBritesnide]

Oh no!--

Leave Tucker as he is. You know he's playing "Hart" in the West Palm Beach Little Theater's production of "The Paper Chase".

[AliceUnchained]

Could this be Tucker's "Imus" moment ?

If so, I would do a happy dance with a narrow stance.

[kellygrrrl]

are you kidding? he'll probably get a raise.
I wonder if Obermann will be allowed to comment.

[protagonia]

Jon Stewart sent him packing once before. Carlson's getting kind of Tuckered out.

[Jubal]

Wow, you guys are a real bunch of kneejerkers, aren't you?

Did you even read the story? He wasn't gay-bashing at all; he simply took offense to receiving unwanted sexual attention.

It has nothing to do with being gay. It has to do with having your personal space/security violated.

THIS JUST IN -- not everything's about gaining political advantage. Show some decency.

[rainey]

Chicken Boy can't have an Imus moment. It's been more than abundantly clear for years that he has no place on TV or in any national forum because he's incompetent and inconsequential. ...except for mommy's money and daddy's connections. He has bounced from place to place as he's worn out his welcome and taken the spot of more significant anchors. But money and connections will always insulate.

Surely, everyone knows that by now.

The US will sink to lower and lower levels of mediocrity because we've lost our meritocracy.

[papasalas]

You know, it has always surprised me that Carlson has a job on TV as a commentator. I have always found him arrogant and not very smart. What you mention about connections and money would explain why he's where he is. Could you elaborate more on that?

[MrBritesnide]

"He has bounced from place to place as he's worn out his welcome and taken the spot of more significant anchors."

Quite so-

He's been fired from FOX and PBS, and been humiliated by Jon Stewart, and then there's Dancing with the Stars....

[CaptainVideo]

Clearly what Tucker said is a lot worse than what Imus said. So why it Tucker still on MSNBC?

[lookingAhead]

Loved it couldn't stop laughing..Thanks

[kroses98]

Imus has much "Saving Grace," whereas Tucker and Scarborough are nothing but "RIGHT-WING" big-mouthed bigots! Imus was an anti-war spokesman, who HATED BUSH & CHENEY, and he spoke against them every single day. That was his downfall, (in addition to his hatred for Hillary Clinton)! I share his opinion on the same three counts. What a shame that the "left" was fooled into removing this wonderful spokesman for our cause from the airwaves. Now, we have the "Real Bigot," Scarborough, on in Imus' place for 3 hours every morning, and he slams Bill Clinton every chance he gets! He and Tucker are both fools, but they (and Chris Matthews) are probably the price we must pay from GE, for the little serious time we have with Keith Olbermann on their network. Such is the inevitable cost of Capitalism!

[MrBritesnide]

Well you've just described a political hack talking to a journalistic hack.

[YellerDawg]

Maybe it's his Isaiah Washington moment. That rug on Dan Abrams's head makes me laugh every time I see it. All three of those guys probably hang around men's rooms, just like Larry Craig. Remember all of those family values guys who have been caught with their pants down. Methinks they do protest too much. Does anyone believe that either of those coifed, plucked, made-up dough boys could beat up anybody?