Olbermann apologizes to Melanie Lawson, Houston news anchor with MS who fell from chair

[doublevision1]

http://www. huffingtonpost .com/2010/04/01/olbermann-apologizes-to-m_n_521223.html

"Keith Olbermann apologized to Houston news anchor Melanie Lawson Wednesday night on "Countdown," just one day after airing an embarrassing clip that showed Lawson falling out of her chair during a live broadcast.

The reason for Olbermann's apology? It turns out that Lawson has multiple sclerosis, which might help to explain the incident. According to a mutual friend of both the MSNBC host and the anchor, Lawson has used a cane for years.

But it appears that MSNBC wasn't the only cable news network to air the video. Fox News' "Fox & Friends" also joked about the clip they called "Anchors Away" over the weekend, according to one angry viewer who wrote to media web site Houston Press :


"I am very conservative politically and watch the Fox News cable channel from morning to night. Their political views align with mine and I do not trust the other media outlets which have a hard liberal bias.

However, the FNC show Fox and Friends Saturday which aired yesterday 3-27-10(6-9 AM)included a "funny" video segment of a Houston Anchor woman falling from her chair while on the air. The segment was called "Anchors Away" and was accompanied by raucus jokes and malcious commentary as the anchor fell to the floor on while on the air. That anchor was Melanie Lawson.

As much as I like and trust Fox politically, I wrote to them demanding that they issue a live, on air apology on the Oreilly program which will be aired on Monday 3-28-10 (7 PM)."


Fox News may have broadcast the apology, but footage of it could not be found online."

[doublevision1]

Agreed, humour is often the best way out of an awkward situation.  MS can be a devastating diagnosis, but can also provide some excellent comic material from time to time.  It has for me.  Glad to see Ms. Lawson was able to laugh this one off herself.  How embarrassing to have something like that happen at work, multiplied by a thousand for having it aired on TV.  Obviously K.O. meant no harm and evidently felt badly enough to compel an apology.  Hopefully the Fox crew does/has done likewise.

[opie74]

When something like that happens to me, I try to be the first to crack a joke.  That takes the sting out of it.  I was so shy as a child that I had to find a way to cope.  It really does work!

[truelove47]

I think she would have received more empathy or understanding if she was wearing

a cast.  Sometimes, this disease is so, so, invisable.

My 2cents

Liinda

[PastorDan]

How are a Slinky and Keith Olberman alike?  Neither are much good for anything, but you just can't help enjoying it when you see one tumble down a flight of stairs.

May God bless Ms. Lawson.  The rest are just ...   Aw, you know.

[twopack]

In the apology it was noted that Ms. Lawson laughed at herself over the spill.  I applaud her for that.  IMHO it helps everyone to keep a light attitude about our less-than-perfect selves, even when it's because of MS.  Too many people tend to be overly serious and perfectionistic (I've been #1 on that list some days).  It can make us unapproachable.  Then we wonder why nobody seems to want us around.

I'm adding congratulations for Ms. Lawson for managing to maintain her position in the demanding field of newscasting despite dealing with MS for years.  She's a pleasant and courageous hero in my book.  Because of this rukus the world has a new role model for the possibilities of living fully with MS.

BTW, I didn't see the video or any of the media replays/comments concerning it.  I'm guessing it wasn't too different from the endless streams of video now broadcast for our amusement.  Who hasn't laughed (at least once) then felt guilty, when seeing another person fall?  It's so common that the comedy of slapstick is based on it.

I find it refreshing that instead of being all hot and offended, this caught-on-video victim is joining in the laughter.  Too bad nobody was around to help me see the humor when I pulled a nose-to-toes dive recently.  

Ms Lawson, I'm so glad no one was injured in the making of this video.  Keep up the good work.

Mary

[patientx]

I watched that video, and to me it looked like the chair just rolled out from under her.  I hate admit it, but I've had this happen to me before (nothing to do with the MS).