CNN host Carol Costello on Tuesday tried to explain to Fox News host Brian Kilmeade why he should not blame the victims of domestic violence after she said that his joke about violence against women in the NFL made her want to "throw up."
Kilmeade -- along with Fox News host Steve Doocy and Anna Kooiman -- had made light of video on Monday that showed NFL player Race Rice punching his then-girlfriend in an elevator, and knocking her out. Kilmeade said that the message was to "take the stairs." And Doocy reminded abusers to stay out of elevators, where "there’s a camera."
"The heart of the matter is, what about the women?" Costello asked on Tuesday. "All the mothers and daughters and sisters who are abused by someone who [says he] loves them. And why, all too often, we're quick to point the finger of blame their way."
Costello pointed out that the commentary on Fox News had spent little time blaming Rice, and instead was "aimed squarely at his wife."
"When I watched that segment, I wanted to scream -- actually I wanted to throw up, and so did millions of others online," she said.
Genesis Women's Shelter Director Jan Langbein told Costello that she was also "horrified" by the comments on Fox News.
"I am constantly surrounded by messages -- and so are victims of domestic violence -- surrounded by messages that this is somehow her fault or that if she had taken the stairs or done something else or not worn that outfit that this abuse wouldn't have happened," Langbein explained. "It's not about her actions at all."
But Costello wasn't done. During the next hour, she had some more thoughts for her "friends" at Fox News.
"Stop the victim blaming. Yes, victims of domestic violence often return to their abusers for many complicated reasons," she pointed out. "I did briefly. In an op-ed I wrote for CNN.com, I talked about a boyfriend who knocked me out. I met up with that boyfriend again because he wanted to apologize. Let's just say, it was not a good idea."
"So Fox & Friends, to put it bluntly, shut up!"
Watch the video below from CNN's Newsroom, broadcast Sept. 9, 2014.
