News

3 Times Journalists Refused To Apologize

by Jo Yurcaba

Donald Trump can't escape the consequences of the "blood" comment he made about Megyn Kelly, one of the moderators for the Republican debate, after she grilled him on things he has said about women. Trump was angry with the question, so he told CNN's Don Lemon that, "You could see there was blood coming out of (Kelly's) eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever." Trump has refused to apologize for the comment, and said that Kelly should actually be apologizing to him for the way she treated him during the debate. But during her show, The Kelly File, Kelly said she won't apologize. And she is just one of many journalists who have refused to apologize for doing their work.

Both Trump's supporters and haters on the Internet have become riled up over his comment, saying that it seems like he was making a joke about Kelly's period. But Trump has said that anyone who made that link is "sick," and that such a connection would be "inappropriate," according to CNN. Monday night, Kelly finally responded to Trump's call for an apology and the interviews he did which "attacked" her personally. Kelly said that she "certainly will not apologize for doing good journalism," and that it's "time to move forward." Then, she did just that and discussed news from Ferguson, Missouri. Kelly isn't the only journalist to stand by her questions, even if they did offend a presidential hopeful. Here are three other journalists who wouldn't back down after asking the difficult questions.

When Rep. Michael Grimm Threatened A Reporter

NY1 Channel reporter Michael Scotto was interviewing Grimm, a Republican who represents Staten Island and other parts of New York City, after the 2014 State of the Union address. Scotto asked Grimm about his reactions to President Barack Obama's speech, and then he asked the congressman about allegations of campaign finance violations during his 2010 election, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Grimm refused to answer the question, walked away, and then returned to confront the reporter, even though he was still on camera. Then Grimm lost his cool: "If you ever do that to me again, I'll throw you off this ... balcony." Then, after he and Scotto bickered back and forth, Grimm said, "You're not man enough. I'll break you in half. Like a boy."

Grimm later apologized, though not before saying Scotto's question was "disrespectful and a cheap shot," according to the LA Times. Scotto refused to apologize and even spoke about the video on MSNBS's Morning Joe.

When A Muslim Scholar Told A Reporter That Her Interview Was "Beneath Him"

Lebanese TV host Rima Karaki hosted Muslim scholar Hani Al Seba’i to talk about the wave of recent Christians who had joined ISIS. But for some reason, Seba’i wouldn't answer Karaki's questions directly. Instead, he started a long-winded discussion about the history of people joining the group. When Karaki asked him to refocus on the present day, he became combative. Karaki asked him not to get worked up, telling him that she respected that he wanted to give a complete answer. But Seba'i responded with, “Are you done? Shut up so I can talk.”

Karaki said, "How can a respected sheik like yourself tell a TV host to shut up?" Seba'i responded with, "It's beneath me to be interviewed by you. You are a woman who ..." but he couldn't finish the sentence, because Karaki cut off the transmission. Then, in truly badass form, she refused to feel bad, saying, "Just one second. Either there is mutual respect, or the conversation is over." *Insert salsa-dancing emoji*

When Helena Andrews Was Verbally Attacked For Texting During The National Anthem

During the White House Correspondents' Dinner in April, Washington Post reporter Helena Andrews came under fire on Twitter for texting during the National Anthem. The tweets included things like "I died for your freedom," and "show some respect for the people who died for you." Andrews responded by saying that she was taking notes on her phone, "because it's 2015," and didn't apologize for her actions.

Some have since argued that patriotism isn't a necessity for everyone living in the U.S., and that Andrews wasn't disrupting a speech or trying to interrupt the playing of the Anthem. Rather, she was just doing her job or something that required her immediate attention — neither of which should necessitate an apology.