Fox & Friends host apologises for saying mentally ill homeless people should be killed
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Fox & Friends talk show host Brian Kilmeade triggered widespread criticism when he said homeless mentally ill people should be killed by lethal injections.
PHOTO: BIRAN KILMEADE/FACEBOOK
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WASHINGTON – A host for the conservative Fox & Friends talk show apologised on Sept 14 for stating that homeless mentally ill people should be given lethal injections, saying his remark had been “extremely callous”.
The comment by host Brian Kilmeade triggered widespread criticism.
During a Sept 10 segment about the murder of a Ukrainian woman in North Carolina, Mr Kilmeade’s co-host Lawrence Jones said mentally ill homeless people should accept treatment programmes or be jailed. Mr Kilmeade added: “Or involuntary lethal injection – or something. Just kill them.”
A 34-year-old man with a long criminal record has been charged with the woman’s murder. His mother told local television that she had previously had him involuntarily committed and that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
“I apologise for that extremely callous remark,” Mr Kilmeade said on air.
“I am obviously aware that not all mentally ill, homeless people act as the perpetrator did in North Carolina, and that so many homeless people deserve our empathy and compassion.”
Fox & Friends airs on Fox News, which did not respond to a request for comment. REUTERS
