Non-Apology Watch: Geraldo Rivera doesn't quite apologize for Trayvon Martin hoodie comment

by Miranda Nelson on Mar 27, 2012 at 11:43 am
Bill O'Reilly and Geraldo Rivera: just two dudes who'd never wear hoodies outside of their houses.
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Today's winner of the non-apology award goes to perennial idiot Geraldo Rivera for his statements concerning the backlash over his remarks on Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old who was shot to death in February by wannabe neighbourhood watchman George Zimmerman on the way home from the store.

And just what was the insensitive thing he said?

“I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was," Rivera said last Friday (March 23).

Later that same day, Rivera dropped by Bill O'Reilly's show, and continued his asinine remarks.

Choice quote: "My thesis is, parents, don't let your kids go out wearing these damn hoodies because they could attract the attention of not only the cops, but of nutjobs apparently like this George Zimmerman. And when they see and respond, it is a stereotype, it is repugnant, it is all the things that offend us, but it is real life. It is reality."

However, and this is a shocker, people took umbrage with his insensitive, victim-blaming language, including Rivera's son, who said that he was "ashamed" at his father's stance on hoodies.

So, in an email to Politico yesterday, Rivera offered this statement:

“I apologize to anyone offended by what one prominent black conservative called my ‘very practical and potentially life-saving campaign urging black and Hispanic parents not to let their children go around wearing hoodies.’”

He also tweeted this:

Please note that neither of these statements are real apologies. At no point does Rivera take back was he said or state he is ashamed of what he said and should not have said it. No, it's a classic non-apology: "I'm sorry if my words offended you. You guys can be so damn sensitive sometimes."


Follow non-apology watcher Miranda Nelson on Twitter.

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marcia martinez
Mar 27, 2012 at 2:31 pm
geraldo is right....as a mexican person i know that the way i dress effects people's perception of me.....where my hoodie one day and putting my hood up caused one of my own friends to say that if they didn't know me they would think i was "trouble" and if i put my sun glasses on with my hoodie up i look like a terrorist (unabomber look alike) as told to me by total strangers
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Martin Dunphy
Mar 30, 2012 at 11:32 am
Stephen Colbert put it well earlier this week: "Yes, it was the hoodie's fault! A hooded sweatshirt can make an innocent teen look like a criminal. Just like a suit and glasses can make Geraldo Rivera look like a journalist!"
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