Portraits of MSNBC TV personality Chris Matthews on the grounds of the US Capitol building on Sept. 29, 2013.
(Photo: H. Darr Beiser, USAT)
Chris Matthews is retiring immediately from his MSNBC show following accusations of inappropriate behavior.
“Im retiring,” the veteran host said at the start of his show Monday. “This is the last Hardball at MSNBC and obviously this isnt for lack of interest in politics. As you can tell, Ive loved every minute of my 20 years as host of Hardball.”
Matthews announced Monday night would be his last show, saying he and MSNBC decided to mutually part ways. He also apologized for past making comments about women’s appearances.
“The younger generations out there are ready to take the reins,” said Matthews. “Weve seen them in politics, in the media, and fighting for the causes. Theyre improving the workplace. Were talking here about better standards than we grew up with. Fair standards. A lot of it has to do with how we talk to each other. Compliments on a womans appearance that some men, including me, might have once incorrectly thought were OK, were never OK. Not then and certainly not today. And for making such comments in the past, Im sorry.”
Matthews remained proud of the work hes done on the show, he said. The cable host, a former speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter and chief of staff for House Speaker Tip ONeill, launched his political hour in 1997, often providing a centrist voice on MSNBC.
“Long before I went on television, I worked for years in politics, was a newspaper columnist and author,” he continued. “Im working on another book. Ill continue to write and talk about politics and cheer on my producers and crew here in Washington and New York and my MSNBC colleagues. They will continue to produce great journalism in the years ahead.”
Journalist Laura Bassett revealed in a column for GQ Friday that Matthews, 74, made her “uncomfortable” ahead of her 2016 appearance on “Hardball” after he “inappropriately flirted with me in the makeup room.”
“Right before I had to go on his show and talk about sexual-assault allegations against Donald Trump, Matthews looked over at me in the makeup chair next to him and said, ‘Why havent I fallen in love with you yet?'” wrote Bassett, a freelance journalist covering politics, gender, and culture.
She continued: “When I laughed nervously and said nothing, he followed up to the makeup artist. ‘Keep putting makeup on her, Ill fall in love with her.'”
More: MSNBC’s ‘Hardball’ host Chris Matthews recovering from prostate cancer surgery
Bassett recalled another incident where Matthews complimented her red dress and asked if she was going out following their segment.
“I said I didnt know,” added Bassett. “And he saidagain to the makeup artist’Make sure you wipe this off her face after the show. We dont make her up so some guy at a bar can look at her like this.'”
More: MSNBCs Chris Matthews reprimanded over inappropriate comments about woman in 1999
Bassett’s account was not the first time Matthews’ treatment of women had been called into question.
In 1999, Matthews was reprimanded for making inappropriate jokes and comments about a female employee. The incident, made when “Hardball with Chris Matthews” was airing on CNBC, resulted in the woman getting separation-related compensation from the network, an MSNBC spokesperson told USA TODAY in 2017.
In 2016, Matthews issued an apology after asking where his “Bill Cosby pill” was before an interview with then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during her campaign. He said the comment was made in “poor taste.”
Bassett said she decided to come forward with her account after the host had an on-air exchange with Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren about allegations of sexism against fellow candidate Mike Bloomberg.
More: Warren attacks Bloomberg in debate over claims he told pregnant employee to ‘kill it’
Chris Matthews asks Elizabeth Warren why she believes a female employee who sued Mike Bloomberg for telling her “kill it” when she was pregnant over Bloomberg.
“You believe he’s lying? …Why would he lie? Just to protect himself? …Youre confident of your accusation?” pic.twitter.com/hVkkQhhXtz
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) February 26, 2020
Warren said Bloomberg allegedly told a pregnant employee in 1995 to “kill it,” which was corroborated by a Washington Post investigation. Bloomberg denied saying it.
During post-debate coverage, Matthews repeatedly asked Warren, “You believe hes lying?” and “Why would he lie? Just to protect himself?”
Warren responded, “Yeah. And why would she lie? I mean, that’s the question, Chris.”
In her column, Bassett said Matthews was trying to undermine the alleged gender-discrimination allegation: “There was no reason for (Matthews) to harp on its veracity, except, perhaps, that he himself has made so many sexist comments over the years that he has a vested interest in Bloomberg being let off the hook.”
Contributing: Mike Snider, Ryan Miller
More: Chris Matthews apologizes for ‘Bill Cosby pill’ comment before Hillary Clinton interview
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