Fox News' Sean Hannity on Friday defended MSNBC host Joy Reid's latest apology for controversial comments she made on her blog from years ago, arguing that she should keep her job.
"It's good to see Joy (who is no fan of mine) starting to take responsibility for her past remarks," Hannity said in his own blog post. "My suggestion is that she follows up with the groups and people who she offended, and learn from all of this.
"Her apology should be accepted, and she should be given a chance to make it right, and not fired," he said.
Reid, 49, who hosts a weekend news-talk show on the cable network, apologized Friday for posts that slammed ailing Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, that backed a conspiracy-laden film on the 9/11 attacks and that endorsed anti-Semitic policies.
"While I published my blog, starting in 2005, I wrote thousands of posts in real time on the issues of the day," Reid said. "There are things I deeply regret, and am embarrassed by, things I would have said differently and issues where my position has changed.
"Today, I’m sincerely apologizing again."
In April, Reid apologized for homophobic posts on her former blog, but she initially said that the site had been hacked — though experts called her claims unlikely.
In Friday's statement, Reid did not mention hacking.
Hannity said that he was taking up the mantle against the "'crush, fire them, and destroy hosts you may disagree with' environment" in cable news.
"I guess, as the number one-rated host in cable, I’ll start," he said.
"I am grateful for this microphone and the platform given to me every day by my audience," Hannity continued. "I am a believer in the freedom of speech for all Americans.
"I am also a believer in second chances," he added. "And as someone who believes in forgiveness, I have to say, we have all fallen short."
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