Accuracy in Media

MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews shocked viewers last night when he abruptly retired at the beginning of his program saying the time had come for “younger generations” to take over.

“The younger generation is out there, ready to take the reins. You see them in politics, in the media and fighting for their causes. They are improving the workplace. We’re talking here about better standards than we grew up with — fair standards,” Matthews said. “A lot of it has to do with how we talk to each other. Compliments on a woman’s appearance that some men, including me, might have once incorrectly thought were okay, were never okay. Not then and certainly not today. And for making such comments in the past, I am sorry.”

The latter remarks were directed at journalist Laura Bassett, who penned an opinion piece that appeared in GQ on Friday in which she outlined Matthews’ long history of making sexist comments to women.

Bassett wrote that in 2017 she was in the makeup room before appearing on Hardball when Matthews looked over from the chair next to hers and said: “Why haven’t I fallen in love with you yet?”

She said she laughed nervously but didn’t say anything and Matthews told the makeup artists to“Keep putting makeup on her, I’ll fall in love with her.”