Mitt Romney has accepted Melissa Perry-Harris’ apology and he says he’s ready to “move on.”
During a visit on “Fox News Sunday,” the former Republican presidential candidate said he’s taken the high road and forgiven the MSNBC host for her distasteful jokes about his his adopted African-American grandson Kieran James.
“I think her apology was clearly heartfelt, and we accept that,” he said. “I am going to move on from that. I’m sure they want to move on from it.”
Romney went on to say that public figures are welcomed targets for criticism, “but children – that’s beyond the line.”
“I recognize that people make mistakes. And the folks at MSNBC made a big mistake,” he added. “They’ve apologized for it. And that’s all you can ask for.”
Last week on her self-titled show, Harris-Perry reviewed the top photos of the year, including the Romney family’s Christmas card featuring baby Kieran. While discussing the photo, guest panelist Pia Glenn said, “One of these things is not like the others! One of these things just isn’t the same. And that little baby, front and center, would be the one.”
In a tearful apology on Saturday, Perry-Harris said “I am deeply sorry that we suggested that interracial families are in any way funny or deserving of ridicule.”
“But whatever the intent was, the reality is that the segment proceeded in a way that was offensive, and showing the photo in that context of the segment was poor judgment,” she concluded. “So, without reservation or qualification, I apologize to the Romney family.”
Check out the video clips of MPH’s apology and Romney’s response here.