Brian Kilmeade Apologizes For Racist "Pure Species" Comment

Brian Kilmeade apologized Monday for controversial comments he made on the July 8 episode of "Fox and Friends."

The controversy arose when Kilmeade and his co-hosts were discussing a Swedish and Finnish study which found that married people were less susceptible to Alzheimer's disease than unmarried ones. Kilmeade downplayed the study's significance in America, saying "we [Americans] keep marrying other species and other ethnicities . . . Swedes have pure genes . . . in America we marry everybody..."

The comment prompted an outcry for an apology, including a petition from UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc., which said that Kilmeade's statement was based on "the basest of white supremacist ideologies".

Kilmeade apologized this morning, saying "I made comments that were offensive to many people. That was not my intention, and looking back at those comments I realize they were inappropriate. For that I sincerely apologize. America [is a] huge melting pot, and that is what makes us such a great country..."

WATCH THE ORIGINAL STATEMENT HERE

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Comments

[396]

I'd pay money to be put in the octagon with this guy.

[ReaganIsTheWorst]

*FOX NEWS ANCHOR Meeting*

Bill-O, "If we show a little racism, we'll pull over some of Lou Dobbs viewers to our network."

Megan, "O Bill your so smart."

Hannity, "Dam you Bill I was going to mention that strategy."

Steve, "I will suck your $%^& Bill-O."

Shepard, "Is this what I went to school for? What in the hell am I doing here?"

Gretchen, "Brian get your hands off my legs."

Greta, "Sorry Gretchen, that was me."

[Goliadkin]

Fox News = HateTV

[July rose]

Gee, that was sincere. (note sarcasm)

[cyndeewi]

Please get rid of Fox news!

[Martin McCall]

I am African american and I watch fox news all the time I believe a well rounded observation of the issues makes it easier for me to form a well educated opinion, And because I actually watch Brian K. I accept his apology even though I was very bothered by the comments . P.S I think he is trying to hard to be like his smug father figure Mr. Steve Dusey

[opprobrious]

well rounded observation??? Wow. i really have heard everything. lemme guess. you've never studied history, political science, history, economics, philosophy or journalism.

[StephBr]

I am sure McCall was joking,

[Nairb50]

You're not African-Am­erican....­and you watch FOX news...rea­lly!?!? Yikes!!!

[cyndeewi]

What kind of African American are you?

[etu2000]

I didn't see the segment but it reads to me that he was saying that Swedes don't marry outside their race.. I'm sure if he didn't use the word "pure" or "species" all you uptight oversensitive people wouldn't have been soooo offended. Oh yeah and he is on FOX News so any little crumb of so called racism is going to blown into a PIE.
"we [Americans] keep marrying other species and other ethnicities . . . Swedes have pure genes . . . in America we marry everybody.­.."

[NewYorker6699]

Hey genius! There's only one race in this species (homo sapiens): the HUMAN race. There are different ethnicities, but we're all related genetically, whether you like it or not.

[NewYorker6699]

The ignorance of the statement is just as offensive as the racism. Sweden is a country; a political entity. Swedish people are not a separate race. They just reside within the borders of the country of Sweden. There are a number of different ethnic groups holding Swedish citizenship. A news anchor on a major network SHOULD know better than to make this kind of statement. His apology was shallow and insincere, motivated undoubtedly by fear of losing his job as a result of the firestorm of opprobrium he brought down on himself and his employers. He should have been shown the door, but, then, he works for Fox News, so his continued employment there is no surprise.

[etu2000]

get your underwear out of your arse!

[ROlmeda]

Umm, right, etu2000. If he hadn't said anything offensive, no one would have been offended. I gotta hand it to you there, that's some sharp political commentary you got going. Sure put me in my place.

[etu2000]

Rolmeda are you aware of the percentages that Swedes procreate w/ other ethnic groups ? just like Italians, Irish , Germans. There is more variety of ethnic groups in USA. And yes the Swedish people do have genes specific to their homeland country New Yorker 6669. Check out diseases specific for the Japanese people. This is the point I believe the commentator was attempting to make.

[Torita]

"I'm sure if he didn't use the word "pure" or "species" all you uptight oversensitive people wouldn't have been soooo offended. "

Um, well, yeah...if he hadn't actually said something offensive then people probably wouldn't have gotten offended.

[etu2000]

Just like BHO jumping to conclusion on his buddy from Havard.. I think Gates was racially and professional job profiling of the policeman.­.

[drewziGNY]

OK, so he said that comment like what....2 or 3 weeks ago?....wo­w! he's really prompt with the apologies!

[azhiker]

I'm sure both black, three Oriental and six Hispanics people that watch Fox Entertainment all accepted his most sincere apology.

[cyndeewi]

ROFL

[smallbang]

We marry different species? Well, hello, that explain's my husband's webbed feet and penchant for making quacking noises when we make love - I never could have figured that out. Thanks, Brian.

[jwcmass]

Very good I have to ask-- Daffy? or Donald? Just wondering. If it's Donald, I hope he's doing well with his anger management classes.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

[NewYorker6699]

I wonder what he would do if he needed a blood transfusion or an organ transplant, and the only available viable donor was a member of one of the people he thinks belong to a different species. I'd love to be a fly on the wall as he discussed the decision with his doctor and his family.

[Torita]

"So...the doctors say they have a liver, but it's from a Mexican...­can they do that now? And how do we know it's safe? I mean, isn't this kind of thing like totally experimental? How do they know Mexicans' livers even function in the same way?"

[jemborg]

I had the impression that most so-called conservatives were descended from reptiles.

[Dannydel]

He's a 'Talking Head'. Some of these heads that speak come with brains, the cheaper models, as employed by Rupert & The gang, come empty. I mean you get what you pay for....rig­ht, Fix News viewers?

[ajf67]

Seriously, this is his apology? I hadn't bothered to look at it before because I figured his "apology" would be pretty standard-issue stuff. But it didnt even live up to that low standard. He didnt even really pretend to be apologetic, or even let on that he was in any way aware of how disturbing his remartks were. Fox is just unbelievable.

[whateverlolawants]

Well, I do have to say, at least he didn't blame other people for his remark or for being "oversensi­tive." That's a pretty common part of "apologies" on FOX and other news shows.

[Cowboylove]

What is amazing about most white Supremacist like Kilmeade is they do not realize they are the best argument that the White race is by no means superior.

[Cowboylove]

If I said something that offended anyone, I am truly sorry. That was not my intention. All I was saying was Hitler was right. The Caucasian race is the best. I did not think that could be misconstrued as racist or divisive by the Negroes, Orientals and Mexicans. You colored people can be so sensitive. So I am truly sorry you cannot handle the truth.

Can I keep my job now, Boss?

[NewYorker6699]

Brilliant!

[AirForceBlue]

Kilmeade ya dummy.....­....this is America, don't evah make even the slightest comment about "race," else ya loose the dogs. Stay safe, be vanilla (hmmmmmm, wonder why that word is used.....)­.