Fox News contributor Tammy Bruce was forced to apologize, after she had described an autistic child as a “snowflake” in need of a “safe space.”
During a speech honoring military families at the White House for National Military Spouse Appreciation day, Vice President Mike Pence’s hand accidentally struck a child, upon which the child expressed that Pence owed him an apology.
Michael, a 10-year-old autistic child was documented in a video that went viral last week, insisting on getting an apology.
However, what helped this story reach fame, was when Bruce mocked the autistic child during a segment that aired on Fox News on Friday. Bruce, in response to the autistic child’s plea for an apology stated, “I guess we’re giving birth to snowflakes now, because that looked like that kid needed a safe space in that room,” and claimed that the child “pretty much stalked the vice president afterwards.”
“The fabric on his sleeve touched his nose maybe,” Bruce said. “He stalks the vice president, says, ‘you owe me an apology.’”
On Monday, the autistic child’s mother, Dr. Ingrid Herrera-Ye appeared on CNN’s “The Lead With Jake Tapper” to denounce Bruce’s comments about her son.
“Michael is 10 years old,” Herrera-Yee said. “He is on the autism spectrum. He’s a military child. And he loves the White House.”
“I was devastated when I saw what they were saying … People who — they didn’t even know his age,” Herrera-Yee added.
“They didn’t know who he was, but really taking out of context a really innocent interchange between the vice president and my son.”
Following Herrera-Yee, Bruce made a public apology on “America’s Newsroom.”
Bruce said, “First of all, I am so sorry to the family. My intention was never to hurt a kid and his mom. We had absolutely no idea that Michael was on the autism spectrum. And as a gay woman and feminist, I have spent most of my adult life working to improve the lives of women and children and those who are disenfranchised. I get it and I apologize. I also appreciated the boy’s mother — Dr. Herrera-Yee’s — public comments, and her clarity on this. A main lesson here, no matter intent, is to leave kids out of our political discussions. We certainly agree on this.”
