MSNBC Offers a Non-Apology for Mexican Twinkie Segment on “The Cycle”

By:
Nov 19, 2012
10:55 PM

Tonight, MSNBC released the following statement regarding a Mexican Twinkie segment it aired on "The Cycle:"

On Monday’s The Cycle, we aired a graphic during our reporting on the Hostess story that was apparently offensive to some viewers. We want to say that it was never the intention of MSNBC to offend any person or any group.

In case you missed what the statement was referring to, here is the clip:

Now MSNBC might want to rethink the statement since this is not about "offense." That is mistake #1. Also, we read the statement a few times and if there is an apology in the statement, we have yet to see one. That is mistake #2.

The bigger issue is simple. What MSNBC and "The Cycle" are overlooking is the following: why would you even think that such an image would be seen as witty and funny in this day and age?

It is just another example of how the mainstream English-language media refuses to dig deeper into stories that would actually be interesting to cover from different angles and points of view. Instead of having a real discussion about the irony of a Mexican company possibly owning an American icon (while people like Rush Limbaugh lament the death of traditional America because our supermarket shelves no longer carry Twinkies), shows like "The Cycle" continue to lack true knowledge about subjects such as these. So we as viewers get sombreros, cactus, and host S.E. Cupp speaking in exaggerated Spanish while her co-hosts (really, Touré?) snicker and giggle like members of a privileged private club where no Latino voices are allowed in. This isn't just about a "graphic," it is also about the words and actions of an MSNBC host and the behavior of her fellow co-hosts.

Dear MSNBC, either start getting more diverse voices on your shows that speak to the complexities of what it is to be Latino in 21st century America (and PLEASE, start talking about other "Latino" topics besides immigration) or just avoid topics like Mexican Twinkies. In the end, you don't have the bandwidth to have an actual intelligent discussion about these topics.

It's your move, MSNBC. And you can start with a better attempt at an apology. #NoMames.