After Hugo Balta, the president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, called the segment “abominable” and “simply the worst example I have seen of a discriminatory stereotypical portrayal of any community by any media,” the network apologized.
The show, said a spokesperson, “made sarcastic references to the way some Americans celebrate the holiday. It was not our intention to be disrespectful and we sincerely apologize for the ill-advised references.”
Balta added that the show’s executive producer assured him those involved “will be disciplined” and that “while the props were planned, the anchors took it upon themselves to put them on and act in the manner they did.”
Fox & Friends would be so proud.
The dozens of people waiting for the start of Morning Joe before 6 a.m. on Monday may have caught the end of MSNBC’s aptly named Way Too Early, which toasted to Cinco de Mayo in the most offensive way it could muster at that time of day. After a cursory take on the actual history, host Thomas Roberts said, “It’s also an excuse to drink tequila on a Monday morning at work for Louis.” There were maracas, a sombrero, and a guy saying, “Olé!”
