Fox News Commentator Says 'Cotton-Picking' to Black Guest

David Bossie made a racist comment while speaking to black Democratic strategist Joel Payne
By Josh Gardner,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 24, 2018 4:45 PM CDT
Fox News Commentator Sorry for 'Cotton-Picking' Comment
Citizens United President David Bossie talks on his cell phone outside the Supreme Court in Washington   (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

A white Fox News paid commentator who is also an outside adviser to President Trump has found himself in hot water after a tense back-and-forth with a fellow guest on "Fox & Friends" Sunday that culminated with the use of a racist slur. "You're out of your cotton-picking mind," David Bossie told Democratic strategist Joel Payne, who is black. The reference to slavery-era plantation work went about as well as could be expected as CNN points out that Payne told Bossie he had "some relatives who picked cotton, and I'm not going to sit back and let you attack me on TV like that."

Following a commercial break, Fox host and the day's moderator Ed Henry addressed the turn of events, per The Hill. "Bossie used a phrase that clearly offended Joel Payne and offended many others.” Henry said before distancing himself and his network from the comments. "I want to make sure that Fox News and this show, myself, we don’t agree with that particular phrase." Taking to Twitter following the exchange, Bossie also apologized. "During a heated segment on Fox & Friends today, I should have chosen my words more carefully and never used the offensive phrase that I did. I apologize to Joel Payne, Fox News and its viewers." (More David Bossie stories.)

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