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:

Story continues below

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

[dhfsfc]

So, are some people on this site saying that a man making advances to a teenager in a bathroom, and hanging around when he is rebuffed by one victim, makes him a "gay victim?" Or is he a child predator? Or a child molestor?

Have you all lost your minds to political correctness? I was horrified that the three laughed about assaulting the guy on national television, but come on! After all, Tucker didn't have the entire To Catch A Predator back-up to help him out here.

I'm not sure if it's true, but it does sound like a juvenile response. Which is what he alleges he was at the time.

And by the way, I hate Tucker Carlson, the "journalist" as much as anybody on this site.

[ViperVisor]

Ol' Tucker is not a phobe like some of the Right Wingers, no he's a reasonable guy. But he has no problem rounding up 1 that was a Republican retard to rough up someone.

[StarsAndBars]

this is absolutely ridiculous. he was attacked. his story related to the topic. if someone approached me in a restroom with the same intention, i would have reacted in the same way. i'm tryin to figure out when it became accepted to sexually assault someone in a bathroom. i know plenty of homosexuals and not one of them would defend this creep that attacked tucker carlson. he didnt use demeaning language, i dont get it. gah, it blows my mind how many people are voluntary indocrinated to support this garbage. think for yourself.

btw, global warming is the next terrorism. and just like terrorism, its your fault.

[Waitaminute]

The first time tucker told his story. He didn't say the man attacked him. His words, "he bothered me, i came back with someone else and attacked the man. Then we called the police".

[PigeonPoop]

Regardless of what Tucker said, the story related to these posts is about gay rights groups demanding an apology for what could, very possibly, be an assualt on a minor by a particular individual.

Regardless of how you or anyone feels about Tucker, gays, democrats, republicans, penguins, tadpoles, ad nauseam.

As NickG posted earlier, GLAAD and gay rights groups are asking someone to apologize for, (as a minor), assaulting someone for propositioning sexual relations in a public restroom.

This isn't homophobia, (is that really a word?).

There is NO DEFENDING the individual who (allegedly) came on to Tucker.

I am no genius, by a long shot. Please read my previous post and point out any flaws in my argument. I could be wrong. Maybe it's ok to have sex with minors. Maybe gays really do hang out in public restrooms waiting for sex. What do I know?

[yuton]

He really assaulted a gay man who came on to him?
Really? How very proud he must feel.
Just as some out gays now maintain that the self-loathing, closeted hypocrite Larry Craig lacks the class to be admitted into the fraternity he clearly yearns for but denies, Carlson's remarks reveal him to be similarly deficient: a chickenshit thug mangue who needed help to confront someone who did him no real harm.
I won't be watching his vapid clown-show any more and I'm going to tell his sponsors why not.
Imus was just an ignorant bigmouth compared to Carlson.
If his claim is true, he's a gay-basher, a felon, a bully and a coward.
If it's a lie, he's mostly just a coward and homophobe.
Either way, he's a piece of shit.

[imusintheevening]

Oh C'mon yuton, he hit him with his purse and said, I wanna be a pitcher I am tired of being a catcher

[unionnomore]

Tucker Carlson is so totally irrelevant.
As one radio commentator said:"his only audience is family members and old school chums.

[oldschooldemocrat]

If Tucker were a real girl he would have known how to handle an inappropriate approach any number of ways. He could 1. say "sorry not interested" or 2. make a little self-deprecating joke or 3. make a sarcastic, mean remark or 4. given him what oldschool Southern girls learn early--The Freeze--a straight back, level-chinned look as if you've suddenly seen a loathsome insect followed by departure.
Under no circumstances do you lay violent hands on someone just for thinking you are cute. It's called assault. In this case, thanks to the return with the friend deal, it's called gay bashing. My husband saw Carlson's reminescence and said the response of Abrahms and Scarbourough was utterly disgusting. I fail to see why Carlson would want to highlight his youthful felony unless he is another in-denial closet case. In any event, firing is almost too good for this weasel. Weren't there any other bathrooms available? Clearly he is a gay-bashing, homophobic, sorry excuse for a man.

[Qbear]

This story makes NO SENSE, if Tucker had yelled out and broken free of an assailant's grip...think the assailant would have remained in the restroom another half hour knowing some underage kid could be reporting him?
I'd say look at the MSNBC "catch a predator" footage to see how skidish predators are when confronted.

[Ramirez]

Well maybe, but predators may be more aggressive off camera and away from police.

[logicgeek]

I can't believe the homophobia on this board. If you're an adult, and someone propositions you, just say no.

If you're a child, still say no, leave and report the incident to the police or the nearest RESPONSIBLE adult (i.e.-not a homophobe).

Unless someone is physically assaulting you, there is no justification whatsoever for violence.

This sort of brainless twaddle, I'd expect to see on a conservative board - not here.

[JohnJames]

It's about using a false concern for children to advance one's agenda (prejudices). What's new? Conservatives have been doing this for decades. The thousands of dead children in Iraq somehow don't seem to matter.

[MrBritesnide]

because the cease to be children if they're Iraqi children...only nice white children are important to the Reich-Ving.

[Marco]

Tucker Carlson sent a statement to Media Matters yesterday afternoon through an MSNBC spokeswoman, revising the story:

"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."
***
Tucker Carlson claims the man "grabbed" him.

This is odd. It seems like an action a person unfamiliar with toilet trolls would THINK goes on, but in reality those that frequent public restrooms for sex aren't going to actually GRAB a person. That, my friends, is rape. And he’d be justified in fighting for his life. However, the people with low self-esteem who go to rest stops & park bathrooms to find other like-minded, sad individuals for consensual sex in a very inappropriate environment aren’t going to actually grab somebody.

Is Tucker Carlson telling the truth? Did a man really GRAB him? How did he grab him? By the shoulders? By the dick? By his luxurious hair?

I'm not sure that this story isn't just one of Tucker's fevered dreams he wakes up from in a cold sweat with a raging hard-on.

Either way, if a man was arrested for this disgusting behavior - trying to grab and force himself on a high school student - there would be a police record, right?

[MrBritesnide]

I heard this original story...Tucker is lying. Originally he spoke of being 'bothered' in a rest room. He never spoke of seizing or grabbing until he was called to task about the incident.

[NYC07]

I think this was just one of Tucker's "Wet Dreams" which he's confusing with reality

[MartyGee]

I'm surprised he didn't stab the man with his bow-tie clips.
If the man was arrested won't there be a record of it?

[cowboyjerkface]

I am willing to bet this is a lie. Let Tucker produce the man who he says helped him out in the bathroom and let the police produce an arrest report. I say Tucker wanted to give a man a blow job, was rebuffed and has not gotten over it.

[JohnJames]

A prediction - in gay-panicked America 2017 every six-year old will need an attendant in order to go to the bathroom in a public school and the attendant will need an attendant and so on because if the Muslims don't get them, the gays certainly will.

[PigeonPoop]

JohnJames:

I wonder.

Would you let you 6 year old go to the restroom alone at a public park? (schools are extreemly secure areas, they don't take kindly to strangers on their campus. Not to mention, at least in Washington State, there is a minimum of 1 active duty police at each and every school.)

Again, this isn't about gays, it is about people using bathrooms to solicit sex with who ever happens to come in.

This is how children die. How can one argue that?

[JohnJames]

If I had a six-year old child I would want him or her to grow up as a brave and confident person, not someone who was supposed to be afraid of everyone and their shadow. Unfortunately, being afraid seems to be becoming some kind of virtue in our country.

[barrycourage]

Anyone who lets a child go to a public restroom alone should be reported to child protection authorities.

[marko77]

Tucker Carlson is a wimp. Some gay guy made an advance when he was in high school? He should've walked away and forgotten about it. To bring someone to beat the guy up? That's sick and shows Tucker's insecurity - what a wimp.

[serialcoma]

If the republicans would stop funding public toilets none of this would happen... of course, they'd never have sex again but hey... who gives a shit about republicans anyway....

[TWOSHORT]

Anita Bryant tried to tell us this was coming many years ago why didn't we listening!

[JohnJames]

We were too busy drinking orange juice.

[barrycourage]

Anita Bryant? Anita Bryant. hmmmmmm...

Oh. Yeah. Now I remember her.

She's the great grandaughter of George Gordon, the sister of James Ford Seale and Byron de la Beckwith, and the mother of David Duke.

You have some interesting idols, 2shrt.