E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSUpdated at 4:49 p.m. ET: Fox News host Geraldo Rivera apologized Tuesday — sort of — for saying Trayvon Martin's hoodie had as much to do with his death as George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain who shot the teen.
"Heard petition demands my apology to Trayvon's parents," he said on his Facebook page. "Save effort: I deeply apologize for any hurt I caused — that is not my goal or intent."
Rivera elaborated on his thoughts in an email to Politico.com, offering an apology while also noting that earlier an unnamed "prominent black conservative" had commented on "my 'very practical and potentially life-saving campaign urging black and Hispanic parents not to let their children go around wearing hoodies.'"
Then Tuesday afternoon, Rivera made it clear on his radio show that he wasn't apologizing for linking Martin's hoodie to his slaying, Erik Wemple, a media blogger for The Washington Post, reported.
"I apologize for hurting people's feelings. I don't back down from my message," Rivera said. " ... Don't be a 911 call waiting to happen."
Last week on "Fox & Friends," Rivera stated that "I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was."
Rivera later acknowledged that his own son was "ashamed" of him for stating that.
Rivera insisted he was only trying to protect children. “I remain absolutely convinced of what I said about asking for trouble," he stated. "There’s trouble enough for minority boys and young men not to provoke mad responses from paranoid jerk offs."
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
Leave a Comment:
what a jerk...
He should not have apologized, he should just have restated what he was trying to say so it could not be so misconstrued.
Although, so many people read whatever meaning they want into everything.
Chilly out today! Think I'll put my HOODY on while out gardening. Here's hoping some neighborhood watch thug doesn't shoot me while he is patrolling his 'hood. If I'm found dead on my front lawn, you'll know why
...yeah, instead of answering a simple question, you attack the man from behind and beat his head on the ground.......that's why you'll be dead.....got it........
nyc, I know you wouldn't answer questions tossed at you by some strange guy on a rainy night, now would you? He doesn't identify himself as a police officer, just some smuck, maybe you would, what say you little girl?
MSNBC - why are you only posting stories that depict Martin is the best possible light? And also only using photos of him as a young boy? You and CNN are just as bad as Fox News. One side against the other. Jesus, where can I find factual, objective news???
Agree completely - it is deceptive to only show the 4 year old photos.
Like the picture of Martin above most of the race baiters in the media don't want you to see the real Martin as he was the night he was killed, but want to portray him as a younger Innocent child that wouldn't hurt anyone. As the real facts come out we find the original story about Martin wasn't current or truthful.
Geraldo has been on idiot watch since he gave up unit locations in 2003 during the Iraq invasion. While I don't think wearing a hoodie is grounds for getting shot, it is an appearance faux pas. So pull up the saggy pants and remove the hoodie.
Charlie-1915998
Gee Geraldo -- you now don't think it's OK to kill people because of the way they dress? Wow -- what a turnaround that is!!! I'm impressed!!
Ah yes, another typical liberal, only capable of hearing and seeing as far his/her locked in the box mentality is capable of, which isn't much.
Charlie, based on your post, you weren't even capable of reading the entire report, nor listening to the entire statement made by Geraldo.... who personally, I can't stand. Geraldo ranks right up there with Jerry Springer, Rosie Odonald, Opra, Elen and every other talk show hosts.
As for the liberal taking a jab at Fox News, LMAO, suffer baby, suffer. There's only 1, as in a single, conservative television news network, and you can't deal with it..... welcome to my world for the past 50 years, where all the other television news stations are bleeding heart liberals, including, but not limited to NBC, CBS, CNN, HLN, 60 Min., MSNBC, ABC, PBS, etc. etc. etc. etc.
Fox News is so thorough on the subjects they cover (yea they lean right, so what, they're the only one... and you can't deal with it, WIMP), that Obama trembles in their presence and wouldn't offer them an interview if his life depended on it..... I wonder why that is.... maybe his life does depend on avoiding the facts about his decisions and of course the tough questions.
Supreme Court can't find a fifth vote to support O'blama Care. Maybe we should boycott the government for getting us into this mess.
Here, here!!! that boycott would be the smoothest running day in the history of America. Sounds like a good plan to me.
Any Bill that gets signed into Law the way Obamacare did, with virtually ZERO bipartisanship and both legislative branches owned by 1 party, (similar to the past 50 yrs. preceeding Billy Boy Clinton), should and must always be re-evaluated and run through a 2nd. time, following the next election.
People shouldn't be so hard on Geraldo...
Afterall, he was just commenting on hoodies -
It's not like he was broadcasting US Troop locations over the air so the enemy could hear and respond..
Oh wait - he did that too - never mind!
I am sick to death of people saying things they believe and, then, apologizing! There's no free speech unless you agree with the opinion.
when his own kid crawls up his azz maybe it is time to reevaluate his statements.....don't you think?
Of course there is free speech w harrington. But there is no freedom from accountability for what you say.
Anybody on here who doesn't like black people, why don't you move to Alaska where being a racist, bigot, gun-toting fool is not only acceptable, but mandatory?
They all seem to work 4 months a year tops, on some get rich quick scheme-- and spend the other 8 drinking and collecting their welfare checks from Exxon and Prudhoe Bay-- given the realty TV shows coming out of there that I have seen
Assuming that all black people wear hoodies is about as bigoted and uninformed as assuming that everyone in Alaska is a gun toting racist. In fact Alaska is yet another perfect example of displaced Native Americans robbed by manifest destiny.
Screw that stand your ground logic .Preempt! Shoot anybody wearing a hooded sweat shirt before you have to stand your ground and risk injury just sucker punch them since you KNOW they are up to no good for certain--- see, Crap logic is EVERYWHERE
And if you are timid and loathe confrontation , Just call 911 anytime you see some ass wearing a hoody walking down the street and get them arrested for conspiracy to commit a crime
Geraldos an idiot and a racist and meant every damn word he said...people say things because they mean it, he apologized because he "had" to, case closed.
Wear your hoodies...we wear them EVERY DAMN DAY in WASHINGTON STATE!!!
Probably because its ALWAYS raining there!!!
wimp! the media has been portraying this kid as a saint , and always showing his pictures as a 5 year old. who knows, late at night ,some kid with his head in a hoodie, on a warm night, walking around your neighborhood. I don't think he should have been shot but , the police should have responded sooner to check him out and not some coward with a gun.
LMAO even Far left talking heads are not mad a Geraldo. Hr had a gaff. He meant well he just didn't say it the right way.
Geraldo calling someone a jerk off? LOL He thinks he is still on his old show. What a ... jerk off.
All i would REALLY like is for ALL these celebrities to stop appolgizing ----
The liberal media really plays it up...showing pictures of Martin younger than 17! Just pouring more fuel on an already blazing fire. Suggesting just a youngster was murdered....he was 17, ...not 10, 12 or five!! That doesn't excuse the shooter,.. but just shows how nasty the media can be. Also, I don't understand hoodies in the hot weather? Unless, because the dark skin absorbs the heat from the sun, and it is used as protection? The only thing that makes sense. As white clothes reflect the sun,...and vice versa. Geraldo may have a point...why the hoodie?
Careful Geraldo, you might get canned by "FIXED NEWS", for having empathy for a MURDERED CHILD!
Too bad in the rush to Trayvon judgment that a kernel of truth leaked out of Geraldo's mouth and that now, facing the thought police, he decides to recant. Not from an error in judgment, but an opinion that was neither politically correct nor well articulated.
Is it not true that white kids and black kids and hispanic kids dressed as gansta's do so to proliferate the image? How about the white kids with the tats and skinhead cuts? Kids in gang colors? Harley guys in black leather with chained wallets and knife on belt? None of these images will ever be confused with Mary Poppins. Leave that to Abercrombie.
People who look like bikers, bangers, commandos and militia, do so on purpose. They crave edginess. Their clothing and actions can promote suspicion and fear. And that is entirely the point for some. Just call me a badass.
It’s also why responsible parents don't let their kids out of the house - especially at night - looking like they are ready to engage in some not so friendly fire. The celebrity media circus aside, a hoodie worn in 88 degree heat? Does that not send a clear message that the person wearing it has a greater issue?
What does this have to do with Trayvon? Absolutely nothing. A hoodie isn't responsible for this kid's death. So let’s not pretend that it does. A guy with a gun is. And you can never justify or excuse violence because of what a person is wearing, unless that person is in a uniform and he happens to be trying to kill you.
But what it does mean is that you cannot discount the threat to people who take attire at face value. And reducing a threat by wearing something different can avoid trouble. It’s a tack most adults take all the time, when they leave their expensive purse at home when shopping or wearing a less expensive coat when walking the streets, when they drive their old car to downtown concerts, and when ditch the Confederate Flag t-shirt in Harlem.
It's only common sense. But then again, that proposition is apparently only acceptable when you are of the proper political persuasion.
the best line of what you wrote was "It’s also why responsible parents don't let their kids out of the house - especially at night - looking like they are ready to engage in some not so friendly fire.."
Because liberal bs aside: that is the crux of the matter: "responsible parents" It is soooo tiring hearing the mothers of dead gang-bangers lamenting in the news media; "my son was a good son" or "the police had it out for him" or "the police are racist" after their sons are shot in the act of some crime somewhere. Fathers? Not to be seen or heard from. Probably aren't even known.
Never mind all the victims of their "good sons", never mind the illegal lawlessness, never mind the rush to "'spect" by murdering, maiming and violence along the way.
These problems are all the parents fault. It was what made the Italians, Irish and other tenant row-home dwellers able to rise from their crude beginnings in the USA to where they are; out of the ghetto. Turn in the criminals, call the police, jail and execute the murderers, rapers and drug-dealers. And the rest of your children might actually end up "good sons."
88 degrees? It was in the low sixties and raining, a good night to pull up your hoodie. Sanford is about 38 miles from the Daytona Speedway -- and February 26 was the day they had to postpone the Daytona 500 on account of rain. The high that day in Sanford was 69, the low was 53.
http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KSFB/2012/2/27/MonthlyHistory.html
The kid was in a gated community. All he did was go to the corner store to buy skittles and an iced tea. He was 17. Letting your kid out of the house in that weather in a hooded sweatshirt is not an act of bad parenting, for God's sake. He should have been perfectly safe -- and he would have been, if he hadn't run into some cop wanna-be with a gun and a history of violence.
So he says he apologizes for what he said, but then said he stands behind what he said! Yep, typical repub.
I think his point is that he apologizes for upsetting people - but also that what he said was misconstrued. As he said, he thinks Black and Hispanic kids need to take precautions so some wack job does not shoot them.
Of course, it is more fun to twist what he says so it can be labled as "racist."
Geraldo a republican? BAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
Oh how I miss the days when Geraldo used to get his face bashed with chairs!
Lol, I agree.
Oddly enough: it seems today's news is vindicating the neighborhood watch guy after all of you had him ready to swing by the neck. And when I said, 5 days ago, "let's wait until the facts all come out" the community collapsed my comment because I was, let's see; racist, right-wing, a bigot and so much more...... and yet, here we are today, and it seems maybe old Geraldo might have been right: imitating a "gangsta", emulating drug dealers, ghetto gang-bangers, might not be such a good idea, eh?
I would like to apologize for everyone that posts on this site and for Geraldo, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Martin, Mr. Sharpton and everyone else that does not have a clue as to what happened that sad night. The grand jury will make their finding with ALL the facts and then we can apologize for them.
Why do you need a hooded sweatshirt in florida? People that cover themselves are sending a scared of the world message. What an awful feeling it must be.