Omarosa Manigault’s appearance at the annual conference of the National Association of Black Journalists was appropriately more like a scene from a reality show than a professional journalists’ conference.
“It became a full s–t show!” one attendee told us. Another said, “It was painful to watch.”
Manigault was a last-minute addition to a panel on police brutality, which caused others to pull out. The NABJ had an emergency board meeting after Page Six reported about the fallout over their decision to add Manigault. Moderator Ed Gordon, who was also a last-minute addition, addressed the elephant in the room before introducing her.
“Let us have a little decorum here and just deal with what it is . . . I’ve been to a couple of events with Omarosa. She braved to go into the lion’s den. All we’re asking this afternoon is for us to be civil, if nothing else.”
And the conversation started off civilly as Manigault shared stories about her slain father and other family members who were murdered in her hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, but things quickly went south when the conversation turned to President Donald Trump.
“One would . . . suggest that [your experience] makes you even more qualified to understand the dynamic that most of the Black community does not understand, and that is how you will sit in a White House with a man who is clearly sending a signal to this country . . .” Gordon said before Manigault interrupted, asking, “Are you suggesting I walk away?”
Gordon continued, “I did my best to try to keep this as civil as possible.” Manigault then stood up and walked to the opposite side of the stage, saying, “Don’t be aggressive. Ask your question, but don’t lecture me.”
They cut to a video of a Trump speech encouraging police to “rough up” people who have been arrested. “Do you think that should’ve been said by the commander in chief?” Gordon asked.
“No, no. Next question,” Manigault snapped before spending the rest of the panel checking her phone.