MSNBC’s Harris-Perry to Romney family: ‘I am sorry’

MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry sent out an unequivocal apology to the family of Mitt Romney early Tuesday for her role in an on-air mocking of a photo of the former Massachusetts governor’s clan that included the recently adopted — and black — baby Kieran.

Miss Harris-Perry addressed the incident with several tweets on Tuesday, including: “I am sorry. Without reservation or qualification. I apologize to the Romney family.”

She also issued a longer statement, via NBC: “On Sunday’s program, we showed a photo of Governor Romney holding his adopted grandson, who is African-American. The intent of featuring the photo was to celebrate it — I often speak to the issue of the increasingly diverse American family. Whatever the intent, the segment proceded in an unexpected way that was offensive. Without reservation or qualification, I apologize to the Romney family and to all families built on loving transracial adoptions.”

The tweets followed public outrage from her Sunday show, during which she showed a picture of Mr. Romney and his family with their newest addition, adopted in September — a sea of white faces surrounding a tiny black face.

Off-camera singing could be heard: “One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just isn’t the same.”

Miss Harris-Perry asked her guests to recommend a caption for the photograph and joked about a potential wedding of Kieran Romney to North West, the recently born daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

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SEE ALSO: MSNBC panel: Romney photo with black grandson ‘sums up the diversity’ of GOP

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After sending out the initial tweet of apology, Ms. Harris-Perry also sent out a couple more.

One: “I work by guiding principle that those who offend do not have the right to tell those they hurt that they r wrong for hurting.”

And another: “As a black child born into a large white Mormon family I feel familiarity w/ Romney family pic & never meant to suggest otherwise.”