Remember yesterday when we told you about the commotion surrounding Omarosa’s scheduled appearance on a panel for the Nation Association of Black Journalists conference in New Orleans?
Well, it went down today — and Omarosa ended up walking off stage.
Omarosa and Ed are on their feet, giving every single journalist in this room what they came for – drama. #NABJ17 pic.twitter.com/ZBmE502V1F
— Maya King (@mayaaking) August 11, 2017
via NYDN:
The White House public liaison worker, generally referred to only by her first name, attended a panel on police brutality at the organization’s meeting in New Orleans on Friday.
However, some attendees turned their backs on her as she sat down for the panel moderated by BET journalist Ed Gordon that included Philando Castile’s mother Valerie Castile and Alton Sterling’s aunt Sandra Sterling.
Omarosa and Gordon got into repeated tense exchanges when he began asking about the President’s views.
“Ask about my story, I’m not going to stand here and defend every single word or decision,” she said after standing up from her chair, according to video of the event.
Omarosa had previously taken issue with the negative attention around her NABJ appearance, and said that she was on the panel to discuss loved ones she had lost to violence.
“I am here @NABJ to talk about my father and brother’s murders. Do you have any decency?” she told MSNBC host Joy-Ann Reid on Twitter Friday.
Omarosa did say that some Trump comments, his saying that police should not “be too nice,” were inappropriate, according to the Washington Post.
Gordon maintained that it was appropriate to ask questions about her work in the White House, though later said that the event was reaching “the point of diminished returns.”
Omarosa ended up walking off the stage before the end of the panel, according to Buzzfeed.
“I’ll see y’all at the White House Christmas party in December,” Gordon reportedly said as she left.
Check out the tweets below for a first-hand account of the madness.
OMG this #NABJ17 panel with Omarosa is SO tense.
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
The panel moderator literally just told Omarosa that she can't railroad his panel. People are literally pacing on the stage.
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
Moderator asking Omarosa what she's doing 2 mitigate Trump's messaging on police brutality. She says she can't comment on her convos w/prez
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
But the tone is just crazy. Like, the mood on this stage is toxic. Omarosa did say recent Trump comments on police roughing up ppl r wrong
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
Three people in the audience have stood and turned their backs on Omarosa at this #nabj17 panel.
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
Another panelist just said, on stage, "There are some black people who really just aren't black." Crowd thinks it's an Omarosa dig. Laughter
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
Another panelist just said to Omaraosa, a lot of ppl may be critical of her because "a lot of people just don't know what you DO."
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
This Omarosa panel at #NABJ17 is a train wreck. More in the audience standing and turning their backs. Others just walking out.
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
Moderator asks Omarosa whether police brutality will be an issue "on the front burner" for the White House. Omarosa says it already is.
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
Omarosa now answering a #nabj17 question on how White House will respond to police violence by riffing on Pell grants.
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
Other panelists now questioning Omarosa themselves. Sniping on stage getting nasty. #nabj17
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
Omarosa just told this moderator, "Shame on you." His response literally included, "so here's what you're not gonna do…" #NABJ17
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
Gotten so tense at this #NABJ17 panel that Omarosa has relinquished her mic to a conference organizer, who's trying to salvage it all.
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
Conference organizer urges audience to look at all sides of issue. Moderator responds by saying it's foolhardy to not ask Omarosa abt Prez
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
Conference organizer and moderator arguing over what the panel should be, meanwhile OMAROSA HAS LEFT THE STAGE #NABJ17
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
Panel now over. I need a drink.
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
