In the 9AM ET hour of Morning Meeting on MSNBC Thursday, host Dylan Ratigan teased his colleague Contessa Brewer over her confusing Jesse Jackson with Al Sharpton on Wednesday: “And did you call Jesse Jackson Al Sharpton the other day?....Can we talk about that later?.... I think there’s some humor to be had in all this.” An embarrassed Brewer sarcastically remarked: “I would love to talk about this.”
While anchoring 2PM ET coverage on Wednesday, Brewer mistakenly introduced Reverend Jesse Jackson as Reverend Al Sharpton. After Jackson clarified his identity, she apologized: “I’m so sorry, the – the script in front of me said Reverend Al Sharpton...I know who you are, Reverend Jackson.”
As promised, the blooper was again brought up later in Thursday’s 9AM hour as MSNBC contributor Toure joked: “Contessa?....I’m not Al Sharpton....Just want to be clear on that.” Ratigan joined in: “This is not Al Sharpton....You understand that?” Toure went on to add: “I know you have that all black people look alike thing going on.” An upset Brewer shot back: “It wasn’t that. It’s – you know what, Toure?....Listen, thank you for clearing it up. I really appreciate that. Kind of you.” Ratigan declared: “Yeah. I'm not Al Sharpton either, Contessa, just for the record. I know I kind of have a slight resemblance.”
Here are full transcripts of the exchanges:
9:28AM TEASE:
DYLAN RATIGAN: And did you call Jesse Jackson Al Sharpton the other day?
CONTESSA BREWER: Not the other day, just yesterday.
RATIGAN: Just yesterday. Can we talk about that later?
BREWER: Yeah, of course, let’s-
RATIGAN: Because that’s – I feel kind of bad – he’s just sitting there and-
BREWER: I would love to talk about this.
RATIGAN: But I think there’s some humor to be had in all this.
BREWER: Well, let’s try-
RATIGAN: And it was an honest mistake on your part, which I think is worth explaining.
BREWER: Right. Let’s try to find the humor.
RATIGAN: And I think we should find the humor.
BREWER: Alright.
RATIGAN: And maybe we’ll take some more of those dental drugs, we’ll feel, you know – I’m kidding.
BREWER: First calling him by the wrong name, then oral surgery. How’s that for a day?
RATIGAN: Exactly.
9:56AM SEGMENT:
TOURE: One last thing. Contessa?
CONTESSA BREWER: Yes?
RATIGAN: Oh yeah.
TOURE: I’m not Al Sharpton.
RATIGAN: This is not Al Sharpton.
TOURE: Just want to be clear on that.
RATIGAN: You understand that?
TOURE: I know you have that all black people look alike thing going on.
BREWER: It wasn’t that. It’s – you know what, Toure?
TOURE (in female voice): It was the prompter.
BREWER: Listen, thank you for clearing it up. I really appreciate that. Kind of you.
RATIGAN: Yeah. I'm not Al Sharpton either, Contessa, just for the record. I know I kind of have a-
TOURE: Not Giethner-
RATIGAN: -slight resemblance.
TOURE: Not Summers.
RATIGAN: I’m not Tim Giethner.
BREWER: It actually says Toure in the prompter.
TOURE: Not Volker.
RATIGAN: Yeah. I am not Paul Volker.
