RETURN OF THE MACKE

Anchor Apologizes For Calling Rachel Maddow An “Angry Young Man”

A local Fox anchor from Cincinnati who referred to MSNBC power lesbian Rachel Maddow as an”angry young man” has apologized, following pressure from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

Fox19 Cincinnati anchor Tricia Macke made the original comment – “Rachel Maddow is such an angry young man” – on her Facebook page back in October. At first, she seemed unapologetic, responding to someone who had taken offense: “you are right. I’m sorry, I should’ve said “antagonistic.” She also admitted that she “knew what I was saying.”

It seems both GLAAD and Equality Ohio knew what Macke was saying, too,  and had a few choice words of their own:

Referring to Maddow as a “man” because she is a gay woman is completely unacceptable for someone in the business of journalism.

Cincinnati viewers rely on Mackie and Fox 19 to deliver unbiased and fair reporting about the lives of LGBT people in their community. But this is someone who attempted to insult a gay woman by questioning her gender, then stated very clearly that she did so with complete awareness of her actions.

Tricia Mackie undoubtedly tried to insult Maddow because of their political differences, rather than simply because Maddow is gay – but her comments went much further than insulting Maddow’s political leanings, and took issue with Maddow’s gender, revealing an anti-gay (or at least anti-gender-nonconforming?) bias underlying her political beliefs.

After the subsequent fallout, on Friday Macke issued an official apology through Fox19’s Facebook page:

“I recently posted comments on my personal Facebook page regarding cable news anchor Rachel Maddow which were insensitive and inappropriate. I apologize to Ms. Maddow and any others who may have been offended by my comments, as they do not reflect my firm beliefs in individual and equal rights, and they certainly do not represent the opinions or position of my employer WXIX-TV.”

What do you think? Was Macke out of line and got put in her place, or did GLAAD blow this out of proportion?

(h/t: The Raw Story)

Photo: GLAAD

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