EBONY magazine issues apology after editor attacks RNC’s Williams

Jamilah Lemieux, a senior editor at the magazine, directed a series of disparaging tweets toward Williams, who works as a deputy press secretary for the Republican National Committee, on Thursday.

The conversation began with Lemieux criticizing a new digital magazine for black conservatives spearheaded by Dr. Ben Carson and columnist Armstrong Williams. The EBONY editor quickly discredited the project, saying she couldn’t care less about it.

Williams, an African-American and son of Fox News contributor Juan Williams, responded by saying he would hope she “would encourage diversity of thought.”

Lemieux, in an attempt to be clever, shot back at Williams, saying, “here comes a White dude telling me how to do this Black thing. Pass.”

Many conservatives on Twitter quickly came to Williams’ defense, saying Lemieux owed the RNC staffer an apology for attacking him and making incorrect assumptions.

And the EBONY editor obliged — albeit in a half-hearted manner.

She then proceeded to go on a rant about Williams without addressing him by name.

Williams discussed his interaction with Lemieux on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends” on Friday morning.

“I thought I was just making a comment about diversity of thought and promoting that in the black community, and I got attacked for it,” he said. “I’m trying to promote diversity of thought, diversity of opinion. I think it’s what made America great. And what she’s doing, instead, is saying, ‘Oh, if you were white, I still would’ve dismissed your claims.’ I don’t think my race has anything to do with the points I was making.”

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus quickly came to Williams’ defense as many outlets began reporting on Lemieux’s comments.

“Raffi deserves an apology from Ms. Lemieux and from EBONY — not just making assumptions about his race but more importantly for dismissing black Republicans and the validity of their opinions in public discourse.”

And Friday afternoon, EBONY did just that.

“EBONY strongly believes in the marketplace of ideas. As the magazine of record for the African American community, Lemieux’s tweets in question do not represent our journalistic standard, tradition or practice of celebrating diverse Black thought,” a statement posted to the magazine’s website reads.

The magazine goes on to criticize Lemieux’s “lack of judgement” and apologized to both Williams and the “Black Republican community.”

Taking to his own Twitter account, Williams responded, exhibiting pure class.