On the January 22 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe, guest co-host Chris Matthews explained he would not be able to host MSNBC's coverage of the South Carolina Democratic primary on January 26 because “I'm gonna be in Philadelphia emceeing the Philadelphia Academy Ball, which is the big white tie up there.” Matthews continued, “Tom Brokaw did it last year. He had Rod Stewart. I've got Billy Joel and the Blue Man Group.” Co-host David Shuster asked, “Can you get us Billy Joel tickets, given that you and him are gonna be buddies?” When Shuster later reminded Matthews, “Billy Joel tickets, Philadelphia Orchestra, we're expecting something in return,” Matthews replied: “I'll getcha Christie Brinkley. Ha!” Brinkley is Joel's ex-wife.

Recently, Matthews sparked a firestorm of criticism after saying, also on MSNBC's Morning Joe, that “the reason” Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) “may be a front-runner is her husband messed around,” and that "[s]he didn't win [a Senate seat] there [New York] on her merit." Media Matters for America noted that Matthews' comments on Morning Joe were the latest in a string of sexist remarks he has made about Clinton and numerous other prominent women.

From the January 22 edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe:

MATTHEWS: I have got to unfortunately take a night off from my business here, where I should be up here. But I'm gonna be in Philadelphia emceeing the Philadelphia Academy Ball, which is the big white tie up there.

MIKA BRZEZINSKI (co-host): Well, that's pretty big.

MATTHEWS: I haven't had a white tie on since the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in 2002.

SHUSTER: That's a big honor. That's a big honor to be doing that.

BRZEZINSKI: That's pretty big.

MATTHEWS: But you're right. Tom Brokaw did it last year. He had Rod Stewart. I've got Billy Joel and the Blue Man Group. But it's a big fundraiser for the 151-year-old Academy of Music. It's the big social event of the Philadelphia season, if you will.

BRZEZINSKI: All right. You know what, Chris Matthews, I'll let you have one night off, but I will miss you in our coverage. I don't know how I'm going to watch it without you.

MATTHEWS: I might phone in, but the white tie might get in the way.

BRZEZINSKI: Yeah, right, and the margarita.

SHUSTER: Yeah, now that you're this big shot.

MATTHEWS: I don't actually. Despite the ethnic reference of that, I have not had a drink since 1994.

BRZEZINSKI: Really?

MATTHEWS: That's why my mind is so acute and so able to take on the issues of the day.

BRZEZINSKI: You see the things we learn in the morning?

SHUSTER: Can you get us Billy Joel tickets, given that you and him are gonna be buddies?

MATTHEWS: He has not had a drink in about, well almost a year, I think. I mean, he's really been trying to clean up his act.

SHUSTER: Billy Joel tickets, Philadelphia Orchestra, we're expecting something in return.

BRZEZINSKI: OK.

MATTHEWS: I'll getcha Christie Brinkley. Ha!

BRZEZINSKI: All right.