MSNBC Apologizes for Misspelling Niger Innis' name

Palm Beach Post ^ | Feb 7, 2002

[John Jorsett]

NEW YORK (AP)--MSNBC has apologized for a typographical error that turned the name of an interview subject into a racial slur.

The network on Monday aired an interview about the Enron case with Republican consultant Niger Innis. The onscreen graphic identifying Innis, who is black, had an extra ``g'' in his first name.

Shortly after it appeared, correspondent Gregg Jarrett offered Innis a ``profuse apology.''

``Oh, God, I thought you guys thought I was a rapper or something,'' Innis replied. ``Media bias continues. Just kidding. It's not the first time it's happened, but hopefully it's the last.''

It was strictly a typographical mistake, network spokesman Mark O'Connor said Thursday. He wouldn't say whether any disciplinary action was taken against the person who made the blunder.

[Ditto]

It was strictly a typographical mistake, network spokesman Mark O'Connor said Thursday. He wouldn't say whether any disciplinary action was taken against the person who made the blunder.

I'm not the spelling Doctor as anyone who reads my posts would realize, but if the Nets take disciplinary action for every typo on the scrawling message at the bottom of the screen, their going to have to open dentention camps.

[Texaggie79]

Try Sergio wayne

[kcvl]

Leo Terrell

Of course, AFTER you picked Leo up off the floor. He would have had a SCREAMING fit!

[Doctor Raoul]

I briefly met Niger Innis when he was a speaker at the first Second Ammendment Sisters rally in DC. He was a class act back then and he's a class act now.

[glock rocks]

?

[Doctor Raoul]

If this had of been a Democrat on Fox News, we would be able to hear the howlings throughout the entire Red Zone.

Actually, Niger should complain that the graphic also said "Republican Consultant". Would they stand for it if they said "Democrat Consultant" under Jesse Jackson's name, even thought Jesse took about a half million in "travel expenses" from the DNC?

I don't ever recall Niger being a "Republican Consultant". He's a conservative.

[mombonn]

t MSNBC should thank God this fellow was a Republican.

If Niger had been a demonrat, this "mistake" wouldn't have happened.

PMSNBC had better to the honorable thing and fire the person responsible.

[DeaconBenjamin]

PMSNBC had better do the honorable thing... LOL!

[maxwellp]

I agree with you. Mr. Innis handled this mistake with class, grace and humor. I understand he's a Republican.

[GuillermoX]

Excellent point. I don't watch the screaming faces on teevee at all, so I am not aware of most of them. Though I have heard of him, I was wondering if he was an actual GOP consultant.

[Go Gordon]

Actually, I believe Tiger handled it with class also, if I remember correctly.

I remember it quite well, and Tiger did not brush it aside. He said he didn't take it as a joke. K-Mart dumped Fuzzy as one of their spokesman. Tiger went for the sympathy vote, instead of laughing it off. Everyone on tour knows Fuzzy is a laugh a minute and doesn't have a racist bone in his body. So while Fuzzy was left twisting in the media wind, NOT ONCE did Tiger come to his defense. I lost a TON of respect for him (Tiger) over the incident.

[Sir Gawain]

K-Mart dumped Fuzzy as one of their spokesman.

Well, maybe it was good for Fuzzy after all.

[savedbygrace]

``Oh, God, I thought you guys thought I was a rapper or something,'' Innis replied.

This reminds me of an incident eight or nine years ago when we were visiting relatives in Maryland. We pulled up to a traffic light next to an very expensively painted custom van. As part of the beautiful artwork on the side of the van, the apparent nickname of the owner was elegantly airbrushed in a script font: The Black Raper.

I don't think the guy had the first clue. LOL.

[gortklattu]

Jesse Jackson did it. He wants to keep the hatred going.

[Ronin]

That's because he is an intelligent Conservative and feels no need to wallow in the victimhood politics of Liberals and their ilk.

[BunnySlippers]

Luckily he's a nice guy and reasonable. He realizes that "niggardly" can apply to anyone of any race.

[Pagey]

"Remember the outcry when a DC official used the word "niggardly" in a press conference? People were upset..."

Oh you're letting the media off WAY too easily on that one.THAT was an UPROAR LOUDER than the entire 2-3 Media Defense of # 42 and his Mis-Actions.(How about ALL the things the media simply IGNORED?)They were going to fire that man until somebody got a Dictionary.It was "Media Execution" of that man and I'll bet they never apologized either.

[Kaslin]

Does anyone else wonder what his parents were THINKING when they gave their son the first name of "Niger"? Were they oblivious to the obvious problems that it could give him throughout his life?

Why should it? Sound both out. Notice that Niger is pronouced with an i while the other one is pronounced with an e. Also Niger is also a river in Africa

[SmartBlonde]

Niger Innis is one of my favorites. He makes cogent and correct comments without screaming. He is handling this little dust up with dignity. Good for him.