MSNBC Prez Apologizes for Cinco de Mayo Incident, Swipes at Media ‘Foxification’

MSNBC president Phil Griffin spoke at a convention today held by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, for a discussion mostly focused around diversity in the newsroom. Griffin faced questions about a lack of diversity on MSNBC.

In fact, one of the questions Griffin got was about that awkward, borderline insensitive Cinco de Mayo moment on MSNBC a few months ago.

MSNBC president Phil Griffin says Cinco de Mayo incident "was embarrassing to me and my company." #NAHJ14SA

— Stella M. Chávez (@stellamchavez) August 8, 2014

Griffin says network is increasingly sensitive to showcasing diversity in wake of offensive Cinco de Mayo incident #NAHJ14SA 

— Marc Ramirez (@typewriterninja) August 8, 2014

"I see a sombrero and I go crazy because I don't like them! We've got to get over these stereotypes!" -Griffin #NAHJ14SA

— Yahaira Jacquez (@YJacquezTV) August 8, 2014

Griffin faced several more tough questions about MSNBC’s diversity and general news network policy regarding Hispanic anchors.

Griffin says @MSNBC "tries to be the most inclusive news network out there." But … #NAHJ14SA

— Fernanda Santos (@fernandaNYT) August 8, 2014

.@MSNBC's Griffin: On diversity, "we've got to stop talkig abot it. We've got to show it." #NAHJ14SA

— Fernanda Santos (@fernandaNYT) August 8, 2014

Good question to @MSNBC's Griffin: If diversity so important, why is first thing Latinos w accent hear is get rid of the accent? #NAHJ14SA

— Fernanda Santos (@fernandaNYT) August 8, 2014

.@MSNBC Griffin: "We want people who are real, authentic," says different accents/looks on TV are inevitable due to changing demographics.

— Fernanda Santos (@fernandaNYT) August 8, 2014

But one quote he said that really stood out is when he said the general problem of diversity can be chalked up to what he called the “Foxification of America: if the liberals like it, the others won’t do it.”

.@MSNBC's Griffin: Lack of diversity in newsrooms due in part to "Foxification of America: If the liberals like it, the others won't do it."

— Fernanda Santos (@fernandaNYT) August 8, 2014

[featured image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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