Sunday morning was not a good day in Melissa Harris-Perry’s Nerdland.
Harris-Perry, host of the self-titled MSNBC show that draws political wonks, scholars and pop culture enthusiasts, invited a panel on to caption the most talked about pictures of 2013. Included in the bunch was a picture of former Massachusetts Governor and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s adopted grandson Kieran Romney — who happens to be Black.
“Everybody loves a baby picture,” Harris-Perry said, “and this was one that really, a lot of people had emotions about this baby picture this year. This is the Romney family. And, of course, there on Governor Romney’s knee is his adopted grandson, who is an African-American, an adopted African-American [grand]child, Kieran Romney.”
When asked to caption the picture, comedian and actress Pia Glenn sang: “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.”
Laughter erupts.
“And isn’t he the most gorgeous?” Harris-Perry responded in an attempt to divert from Glenn’s impromptu song. “My goal is that in 2040, the biggest thing of the year will be the wedding between Kieran Romney and North West. Can you imagine Mitt Romney and Kanye West as in-laws?”
Comedian Dean Obeidallah had already taken the ball and run with it though: “I think this picture is great,” he said. “It really sums up the diversity of the Republican party, the RNC. At the convention, they find the one Black person.”
See the clip below:
Glenn, who inadvertently insulted an entire swath of the population who has been adopted transracially, has taken to Twitter to sincerely apologize for her insensitivity:
As previously reported by NewsOne, Romney announced the adoption of his 22nd grandson, son of Ben and wife Andelynne Romney, via Twitter.
The baby’s name, Kieran, which is Gaelic for “black,” or “little dark one,” caused the jokes to flood in almost instantaneously.
Though Glenn’s apology is without a doubt sincere, the incident probably won’t die down until Harris-Perry addresses it on the air.
Keep it classy, MSNBC.
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