MSNBC personality Joy Reid apologized Friday for publishing a collection of offensive posts on her now-defunct blog that featured anti-gay remarks about political opponents, the suggestion that all Israeli Jews should return to Europe, and a Photoshopped image of Senator John McCain’s face over the body of the Virginia Tech shooter.
“While I published my blog, starting in 2005, I wrote thousands of posts in real time on the issues of the day. There are things I deeply regret and am embarrassed by, things I would have said differently and issues where my position has changed. Today I’m sincerely apologizing again,” Reid said in a statement provided to National Review. “I’m sorry for the collateral damage and pain this is causing individuals and communities caught in the crossfire. To be clear, I have the highest respect for Sen. McCain as a public servant and patriot and wish him and his family the best. I have reached out to Meghan McCain and will continue to do so. She is a former on-air colleague and I feel deeply for her and her family.”
“I’ve also spoken openly about my evolution on many issues and know that I’m a better person today than I was over a decade ago,” Reid continued. “I am the daughter of immigrants and have worked to be a strong ally of these communities. There is no question in my mind that Al Qaeda perpetrated the 9/11 attacks or about Israel’s right to its sovereignty.”
“I believe the totality of my work attests to my ideals and I continue to grow every day,” she concluded.
In a separate statement, MSNBC acknowledged that Reid’s blog had published “hurtful” content, but made no mention of pursuing disciplinary action against her.
“Some of the things written by Joy on her old blog are obviously hateful and hurtful. They are not reflective of the colleague and friend we have known at MSNBC for the past seven years,” the network’s statement to National Review read. “Joy has apologized publicly and privately and said she has grown and evolved in the many years since, and we know this to be true.”
Reid initially came under scrutiny in December after internet researchers revealed a trove of anti-gay blog posts, for which she quickly apologized. However, when an additional collection of offensive posts were revealed by Mediaite in April, Reid insisted they were the product of hacking and denied responsibility for the content. At the time, her attorney claimed the FBI had opened an investigation into the hack but that claim was never independently confirmed by the bureau.
NOW WATCH: ‘Joy Reid’s Old Blog Continues to Haunt Her’