Yashar Ali Offers 14-Tweet Apology to NRA’s Dana Loesch Over ‘Fistgate’
Huffington Post contributor Yashar Ali has offered his apologies to Dana Loesch for his involvement in the controversial “fist” episode the NRA spokeswoman faced last week.
The commotion began when the NRA reposted a video of Loesch where she railed against The New York Times. Shortly afterwards, there was a lot of confusion about whether Loesch said she and the NRA would “fist” or “fisk” the outlet in order to hold them accountable to the truth.
Loesch ended up sparring with Ali and several other reporters on Twitter as she tried to clarify her words at the time. Ali initially defended his position, but released several tweets today where he lamented the level of misogyny and abuse caused by the dust-up
1. Want to follow up on the Dana Loesch fist/fisk situation from last week. It's been bothering me on a number of levels..
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
2. Something that has always bothered me is how misogynistic language is used against conservative women. I find it abhorrent.
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
3. I don't care what a conservative woman says or believes in, no one woman deserves to be called a c*nt, whore, slut, any of it.
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
3. When I have called out the use of such language in past, some people have said to me "they asked for it" – no woman asks/deserves this
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
4. No question, my tweeting that Dana said "fist" instead of "fisk" led to her getting tweets that were filled with misogynistic attacks
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
From there, Ali offered a full apology over the part he played in the affair.
5. For my mistake, I apologize unreservedly to @DLoesch – no one deserves to receive threats of any sort.
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
6. For those of you who dislike @DLoesch or object to her politics/approach, it doesn't matter what she says/does – no one deserves threats
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
7. The reason this has taken me a week is because I was processing what happened and objected personally to anyone saying I lied
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
8. A lie means there is intent, intent to deceive. I didn't lie – I genuinely thought, and I wasn't the only one, that she said "fist"
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
9. "Fisk" isn't a word that is commonly used, + the NRA tweet also used the word "fist" in the tweet. NRA tweet also used 1 min of 4 min ad pic.twitter.com/rYVZM31hFK
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
10. Just an explanation, not an excuse. A check of the transcript and closed captioning from months ago reveals @DLoesch said "fisk"
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
11. I am a gun owner, not an NRA member. While I fervently disagree with NRA's ad campaign and @DLoesch's messaging, no one deserves threats
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
12. Some may come after me because they believe @DLoesch uses incendiary language, whether she does or doesn't isn't material
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
13. My mistake led her to getting threats and misogynistic language hurled at her and that's what I'm apologizing to her for. END
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 11, 2017
Loesch took notice of Ali’s statement, and she accepted his apology:
I appreciate and accept @yashar ’s apology. In a climate such as this, it’s important we celebrate civility and give grace. https://t.co/Ph1ZzQrQ0j
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 11, 2017
[Image via screengrab]
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