An NBC executive admits their letter of apology to Bachmann couldn't be categorized as a formal one, while the Republican candidate thinks the network's reaction is bias.
- Nov 24, 2011
AceShowbiz - NBC had expressed its regret to Michele Bachmann over the controversial intro on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon", so said an NBC executive. To The New York Times' Media Decoder, the unnamed executive claimed that the Peacock sent a letter to the Republican Presidential candidate though it could not be categorized as a formal apology. The executive explained that the network was trying to put the issue to rest as privately as possible.
Another executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because NBC had not authorized any public comments, said Jimmy Fallon had reached out to Bachmann on early Tuesday, November 22 and they had "a great conversation." The host of the late-night show, however, had no plans to address the matter on his talk show Wednesday night.
Fallon and NBC caused public outrage after "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" band, The Roots, used Fishbone's song "Lyin' A** B****" to welcome Bachmann on the show on Monday night. The comedian has since released a personal apology through his Twitter, writing, "I'm honored that @michelebachmann was on our show yesterday and I'm so sorry about the intro mess."
Responding to the controversy, Bachmann said she accepted Fallon's apology but wanted NBC to apologize as well. "I don't have anything against Jimmy Fallon. I love him, he's a kick. It was a great opportunity to be on the show. I'd love to go back again," so she said on Fox News Channel's morning show, "America's Newsroom".
"If that had been Michelle Obama, who'd come out on the stage, and if that song had been played for Michelle Obama, I have no doubt that NBC would have apologized to her and likely they would have fired the drummer, or at least suspended him," the supporter of the Tea Party movement added. "This is clearly a form of bias on the part of the Hollywood entertainment elite, but it's also, I think, sexism as well."
