Conservative US commentator Tomi Lahren issues apology over tweet about presidential candidate Kamala Harris

Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren has issued an apology over a tweet that her own colleagues deemed “disgusting” and “damaging”.

Conservative political commentator Tomi Lahren has issued an apology over a tweet targeting a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate.

The Fox News host came under fire after she took aim at California senator Kamala Harris over her previous relationship with former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown in the mid-1990s, suggesting the representative “slept her way to the top”.

“Kamala did you fight for ideals or did you sleep your way to the top with Willie Brown?” Lahren tweeted.

Kamala did you fight for ideals or did you sleep your way to the top with Willie Brown?

— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) August 1, 2019

She later doubled down on the tweet, saying “I didn’t make this up” and linking to an article about Mr Brown’s comments on his relationship with Ms Harris.

Ask Willie Brown how Kamala became AG of CA...

— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) August 1, 2019

I didn’t make this up. Willie Brown admitted it. The truth hurts. https://t.co/WvmhXWa5kO

— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) August 1, 2019

The tweet sparked a furious backlash, including from Lahren’s own colleagues at Fox News.

“I apologise for my comment on Kamala’s personal relationship,” Lahren wrote on Twitter late last night. “It was the wrong choice of words. There are many other things to take her to task for and I will stick to those.”

I apologize for my comment on Kamala’s personal relationship. It was the wrong choice of words. There are many other things to take her to task for and I will stick to those.

— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) August 1, 2019

Several of Lahren’s own colleagues blasted her for the tweet.

Fox News senior meteorologist Janice Dean said Lahren’s tweet was “pretty disgusting”, adding that “if a male contributor had tweeted this they would probably be suspended with a trip to HR”.

If a male contributor had tweeted this they would probably be suspended with a trip to HR. Pretty disgusting, Tomi. Are clicks and retweets worth demeaning women? Would you do the same to a “conservative” female candidate?

— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) August 1, 2019

Fellow Fox News host Britt McHenry said her words were “damaging” and “weakens” women.

Do you have any idea how damaging this is to women who’ve actually been sexually harassed, assaulted or demeaned in the workplace? How much this weakens our own gender, regardless of partisanship. My goodness.

— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) August 1, 2019

Likewise Fox News commentator Katherine Timpf called her out for bringing a woman’s personal life into a political debate.

I am curious to know what you think bringing a woman’s personal/sexual life into this accomplishes. Men do that to us enough as it is. I’m honestly asking. https://t.co/MgO0yMrAHT

— Kat Timpf (@KatTimpf) August 1, 2019

Lahren is no stranger to controversy. She has previously posted tweets comparing the Black Lives Matter movement to the Ku Klux Klan, criticised NRL quarterbacks for protesting police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem, and engaging in feuds with celebrities from Cardi B to Kim Kardashian.

Kamala Harris has not acknowledged Lahren’s tweet.

The USA Today article Lahren linked to detailed a letter Mr Brown wrote acknowledging his relationship with Ms Harris.

“Yes, we dated. It was more than 20 years ago,” he wrote.

He said he “may have influenced her career by appointing her to two state commissions when I was Assembly speaker”. Mr Brown was the speaker from 1980 to 1995, prior to his stint as San Francisco mayor.

“And I certainly helped with her first race for district attorney in San Francisco,” continued Mr Brown. “I have also helped the careers of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and a host of other politicians.

“The difference is that Harris is the only one who, after I helped her, sent word that I would be indicted if I ‘so much as jaywalked’ while she was DA. That’s politics for ya.”