MSNBC's ratings are sliding but they still lead the cable news landscape in apologies.
After Ebony magazine's Jamilah Lemieux made an insulting, ugly comment about country music lyrics celebrating killing Muslims, fill-in Now with Alex Wagner host Ari Melber was forced to distance MSNBC from the remarks.
They came during discussion of Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) professing himself to be a fan of the genre after the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Nothing says let's go kill some Muslims like country music," Lemieux joked. "Fresh from Lynchburg, Virginia. Someone who obviously does not want to be a polarizing candidate, wants to bring people together. I mean, really? It's absurd."
Salon editor-at-large and noted Serious Person of Tolerance Joan Walsh laughed heartily. Host Ari Melber, for his part, didn't let it completely slide.
"There's plenty of country music that doesn't have that message, right?" Melber asked. Then again, that kind of question implies that a good chunk of country music lyrics concern that specific subject, which is idiotic, but at least Melber gave it a try.
Near the end of the broadcast, Melber apologized.
"We have a programming note," he said. "A few minutes ago on this show, a guest made a comment about country music. That comment was not appropriate, and we want to be clear that this network does not condone it."
MSNBC has been forced to apologize many times for its various anchors and guests shooting their mouths off for such things as mocking Mitt Romney's adopted black grandchild, suggesting someone should defecate in Sarah Palin's mouth, and being thankful for Hurricane Sandy's influence on the 2012 election.
Red Alert points out it's not the first time Lemieux stepped in it with nasty remarks:
Ebony magazine was forced to apologize to the Republican National Committee last spring after Lemieux assumed on Twitter that black RNC staffer Raffi Williams was a "white dude" and told him to shut up.
[H/T Red Alert]