‘Morning Joe’ Co-Host Mika Brzezinski Apologizes to Mark Halperin Accusers

Brzezinski called out former MSNBC analyst’s accusers, who have chosen not to meet with him face-to-face

Mika Brzezinski Mark Halperin

“Morning Joe” cohost Mika Brzezinski apologized for comments she made during Friday’s show about the women who accused MSNBC analyst Mark Halperin of sexual harassment.

During Friday’s early-morning show, Brzezinski called out Halperin’s accusers, who have chosen not to meet with him, saying he is willing to meet with his accusers and apologize with them face-to-face and, in fact, she’s “tried to offer him to them. They don’t want to talk to him.”

Backlash about Brzezinski’s comments came quickly in the form of a statement to MSNBC from 10 women who accused Halperin of misconduct.

“Ms. Brzezinski and her cohost, Joe Scarborough, have a long-standing friendship with Mark Halperin which appears to be shaping their position on his case,” says the letter obtained by The Washington Post. “MSNBC’s air time should not be used a platform for the one-sided rehabilitation of Mr. Halperin’s reputation or career.”

Friday evening, Brzezinski apologized for her earlier comments in a statement CNN obtained. “My goal today was to start a conversation about hearing from the men whenever we can, but I realize that it is not my place,” Brzezinski wrote.

Brzezinski’s full statement:

“We have been trying our best on Morning Joe to have an honest conversation about sexual harassment and sexual assault. The issue has hit close to home given that Mark Halperin was on our show. I have spent a lot of time talking to some of his accusers and to Mark himself. Often I bring up the issue on our show because I think it would be less than genuine to talk about the growing number of cases without recognizing that a former member of our team acted very badly.

In our discussion about sexual harassment this morning, I said some things that hurt people. In the case of Mark, my goal today was to start a conversation about hearing from the men whenever we can, but I realize that it is not my place. It isn’t my call to make, and for that I am truly sorry. As a victim of sexual assault, I understand that each individual’s case is different. This is up to the victims, some of whom I’ve been in contact with. My hope is for all of us to come together to support the brave women who speak out and help make workplaces safer as we continue this difficult conversation in the months and years ahead.”

Halperin’s career took a hit in late October after a CNN report came out detailing multiple anonymous allegations of sexual misconduct while he was employed at ABC News more than a decade ago. In the days that followed, Halperin was terminated as a contributor at NBC and his forthcoming book with Penguin Press was canceled. Showtime, which produced his program “The Circus,” also announced that should the program continue, it would do so without Halperin.

He released a statement on Oct. 27, apologizing for his actions, writing in part, “I am profoundly sorry for the pain and anguish I have caused by my past actions. I apologize sincerely to the women I have mistreated.”

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