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How media outlets covered Bill O'Reilly's comments about Maxine Waters

Sean Rossman
USA TODAY

Bill O'Reilly's comments about California Congresswoman Maxine Waters' hair was instant internet fodder.

It spread across Twitter, sparking venom and helping make #BlackWomenAtWork a trending topic. And, of course, it found its way onto both conservative and traditional news sites, which — it turns out — presented different versions of events.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and Fox News personality Bill O'Reilly.

If you haven't heard, the conservative pundit and host of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor claimed he was so distracted by Waters' hair and, he said, its similarity to the late soul singer James Brown's that he was unable to listen to an anti-Trump speech she gave on the House floor.

"I didn't hear a word she said," he told the others on Fox's Fox and Friends morning show on Tuesday, "I was looking at the James Brown wig."

O'Reilly, in a statement, lauded Waters "for being sincere in her beliefs," but apologized, calling his "jest" about her hair "dumb."

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The story of O'Reilly's comment, his apology and Waters' response revealed the divergence between conservative and traditional media. Conservative sites mostly chose to downplay O'Reilly's comments or build-up Waters' attack on Trump. While traditional media largely stuck to the narrative that O'Reilly was contrite after making a remark many deemed offensive.

Fox News published a first-hand account by O'Reilly titled, "Bill O'Reilly: A Congresswoman Attacks President Trump." In it, O'Reilly again apologized and said Waters doesn't deserve to be marginalized by opponents, but said many Americans disagree with Waters' "extremism." He quickly turned his attention to her accusation Trump is "dangerous" to society.

He then challenged her to come on his show to expound on her statement, claiming she lacks "any clue" what she meant by it.

"She is just spouting the left-wing company line, and anyone who disagrees with her... well, she doesn't brook disagreement," he wrote. "That's not patriotism madam, that's demagoguery."

Breitbart, the news site with ties to Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon, didn't appear to mention O'Reilly's comment, but published a post called "Maxine Waters: Something is 'wrong' with Trump 'He doesn't deserve to be president.'" The post includes Waters' comments she made on the MSNBC show All In with host Chris Hayes. It doesn't mention O'Reilly, despite Hayes asking her directly about his comments.

"No, I'm not responding to him," she told Hayes.

However, she tweeted Tuesday evening saying, "I am a strong black woman. I cannot be intimidated, and I am not going anywhere."

CNN, in its post "Bill O'Reilly apologizes after makingracially charged joke about congresswoman," focused on the apology, the backlash O'Reilly received and brought up previous accusations of racism and sexism O'Reilly has faced.

Other headlines on Maxine Waters-Bill O'Reilly story:

USA TODAY: "Rep. Maxine Waters claps back at Bill O'Reilly after hair insult"

Gateway Pundit: "Bill O'Reilly Mock Maxine Waters For Her 'James Brown' Wig'

Washington Post : "Maxine Waters swings back at Bill O’Reilly: ‘I’m a strong black woman and I cannot be intimidated’"

Opposing Views: Maxine Waters Criticizes Trump Supporters

Associated Press: O'Reilly apologizes for jest about Maxine Waters' hair

ABC News: O'Reilly apologizes for jest about Maxine Waters' hair

Politico: Waters' O’Reilly response: ‘I'm a strong black woman and I cannot be intimidated’

Mediaite: Bill O'Reilly Can't Take Maxine Waters Seriously Because of Her 'James Brown Wig'

The Hill: Bill O’Reilly apologizes to Maxine Waters for James Brown wig remark

The Washington Times : "Bill O’Reilly slammed for saying Maxine Waters wears a ‘James Brown wig’"

The Blaze: "'I am a strong black woman and I cannot be intimidated:' Maxine Waters slams O'Reilly"

Townhall: "'Patriotic' Maxine Waters Brings Trump Impeachment Rant to House Floor"

Follow Sean Rossman on Twitter: @SeanRossman

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