Eric Bolling decided to walk away from a controversial debate on BBC News on Wednesday after another guest described his comments as “disrespectful,” and that it was “really rich” for “a white man” to “run around and claim they care about the economic condition of black communities and black businesses.”
BBC News anchor Emily Maitlis was moderating a discussion between the former Fox News host and political commentator Aisha Mills on the subject of Georgia’s election integrity bill, and the corporations who have pulled their businesses out of the state in response.
As a controversial new voting law in the US state of Georgia is passed, companies are under pressure. But should corporations take a stand when it comes to social and political issues?
Political commentators @AishaMoodMills and @ericbolling debate ⬇️ #Newsnight pic.twitter.com/LoH3MNdPnh
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) April 7, 2021
“Here’s what they did to the African American community and minority businesses in Atlanta, in Cobb County,” Bolling said, speaking of the actions of the political Left and numerous corporations. “They took $100 million of revenue. They took 8,000 booked hotel rooms, and they moved them out of the state and put them in a state and a city with far less diversity than [Atlanta].”
“And, by the way,” Bolling continued, referencing a moment prior when Mills attempted to interrupt him. “If Aisha wants to complain about this, take it up with Stacey Abrams who’s the voting advocate in Georgia who said it was a mistake. Take it up with both Senators, who are both Democrats, one of them African American who said it was a mistake.”
“I think it’s really rich for any Republican, especially a white man, to run around and claim that they care about the economic condition of black communities and black businesses when that’s all a lie,” Mills responded. “OK? There’s nothing in their polices…”
Bolling immediately rejected this apparent accusation of racism. “That’s not fair,” he interjected. “That’s insulting and not fair. You don’t know me, you don’t know who I am.”
“I don’t work for the Biden administration,” Mills responded. “Never have, but what I am is a black person in America, and everything that these voting laws stand for and what they look like are reminiscent [of] the Jim Crow policies that my families lived under. Every single thing about it. This is all about racial discrimination.”
“And how dare you,” Mills continued, “try to act like you are somehow a proponent of black people and businesses just to make a point and try to create a wedge? It’s ignorant and it’s just disrespectful.”
“You know what? That’s disgusting,” Bolling replied in response to Mills’ continued apparent accusations of racism. “I’m done. Put me off. That’s disgusting. I am nowhere near anything you are painting me to be, and the problem with American politics is exactly that. Because I’m white, you think I’m racist? That’s BS. I’m done.”
After Maitlis asked Bolling to remain for one question, he responded “I don’t know why I’m staying here. I need an apology.”
Mills replied, “I’m not going to apologize for being offended,” to which Bolling left, saying, “I’m done.”