Beyond his recent jokes about Baltimore Ravens' football player Ray Rice assaulting his wife, Fox host Brian Kilmeade has a long history of sexist and offensive rhetoric. Here's a look at ten of his worst moments:
10 Times Fox Host Brian Kilmeade Degraded Women On Air
Written by John Kerr & Olivia Kittel
Published
1. Kilmeade Joked About Ray Rice Assaulting Wife On Elevator: “The Message Is, Take The Stairs.” On the September 8 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-hosts made light of recently released video allegedly showing Baltimore Ravens football player Ray Rice attacking his then-fiancée, now wife. Co-hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade highlighted how Rice's wife “still married him,” comparing the relationship to that of Rihanna and Chris Brown, which Kilmeade deemed “a terrible message.” Kilmeade then joked “I think the message is, take the stairs,” while Doocy added, “The message is, when you're in an elevator, there's a camera.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 9/8/14]
2. Introducing Female Colleagues: “Let's See If The Girls Have Clothes On.” Kilmeade introduced a segment on the May 9 edition of Fox & Friends saying, “Let's see if the girls have clothes on.” The co-host also joked, “If you're wearing something, please get naked. That goes for you too ladies.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 5/9/14]
3. Advice For Women Lawyers: Use Your “Great Body” To Get Ahead In Court. While co-hosting Fox's The Five, Kilmeade asserted that women should in fact use their assets such as “a great body and a great figure” to get ahead in the courtroom. [Fox News, The Five, 3/27/14]
4. Objectifying Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Kilmeade joined many in right-wing media using a photo from Nelson Mandela's memorial service to fabricate a sexist depiction of the Danish Prime Minister's relationship with President Obama. On the December 11, 2013 edition of Fox & Friends, Kilmeade said, “I remember the last time I was sitting with the Danish prime minister... She caused trouble in my relationship as well,” implying that Michelle Obama was jealous of the Prime Minister. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 12/11/13]
5. On How Fox Hires Female Hosts: “We Go Into The Victoria's Secret Catalogue And We Said, 'Can Any Of These People Talk?'” During his November 16, 2012 radio program, Kilmeade remarked that Fox hires female hosts by looking at “the Victoria's Secret catalogue” and asking, “Can any of these people talk?” Kilmeade's comment came in response to a caller who complimented his guest, Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Alisyn Camerota, and the person who hired “all the women of Fox.” [Fox News Radio, Kilmeade & Friends, 11/16/12]
6. “Women Are Everywhere. We're Letting Them Play Golf And Tennis Now.” On Fox & Friends June 13, 2012, Kilmeade forced co-host Gretchen Carlson to walk off the set of her show after making a sexist remark that “women are everywhere. We're letting them play golf and tennis now.” The co-hosts later addressed the incident, with Carlson saying she was kidding when she left the set, and Kilmeade saying he's “pretty much not sexist.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 6/14/12]
7. Gratuitously Mentioning Co-Host's Legs While Reporting On Cyclists. On the July 18, 2011 edition of Fox & Friends, Kilmeade discussed his female co-host's bicycle commute to work by saying, “Let's take a second and think about Molly's quad development.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 7/18/11]
8. On The Concept Of “Mom Caves”: “Didn't Men Give You The Kitchen?” On January 24, 2011, Kilmeade and Carlson discussed sanctuary spaces in the home for men and women, man caves and “mom caves.” Kilmeade asked Carlson, “Didn't men give you the kitchen?” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 1/24/11]
9. Advice To Sports Reporter Allegedly Harassed By Players: “Get A Whoopi Goldberg Outfit, Like A Big Tent.” During the September 17, 2010, broadcast of his Fox program, Kilmeade stated his advice to a sports reporter who had allegedly been harassed by New York Jets players: “Get a Whoopi Goldberg outfit, like a big tent.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 9/17/10]
10. Referring To Women As “Babes, Chicks,” And “Skirts.” In a single Fox & Friends segment on consumer car preferences in 2010, Kilmeade referred to women as “babes, chicks,” and “skirts.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 6/22/10]