Andy Richter apparently isn’t afraid to bite the hand that feeds — or at least a finger of the hand that feeds.
“Conan” announcer and sidekick Richter tore into CNN on Friday, calling it “appalling and shameful” that the news network would continue to allow former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on the air, after he responded to a story about a child with Down Syndrome being separated from her parents by saying, “womp, womp.”
Richter issued his condemnation despite CNN and his own network, TBS, sharing a parent company in Turner.
“I work (happily) for Turner, and I find it appalling and shameful that @CNN is still having Corey Lewandowski on their air after his repulsive insult towards disabled children,” Richter began.
“No mealy-mouthed explanation makes it okay. Wrong is wrong,” he concluded.
Lewandowski tried to dismiss criticism of the administration’s policy of separating immigrant families during a Fox News interview Tuesday by mocking a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome who had been separated from her mother after illegally crossing the border.
“I read today about a 10-year-old girl with Down syndrome who was taken from her mother and put in a cage,” Zac Petkanas, a Democratic strategist, said on during the Fox News panel discussion about the administration’s new immigration policy.
Lewandowski interjected by saying “womp, womp,” as he rolled his eyes.
On Wednesday, Lewandowski returned to Fox News to defend his reaction, saying that he was mocking Petkanas.
“I was mocking Zac, a liberal Democrat national committee activist who is doing nothing but politicizing the issue of making an example of one particular child,” he said, while also noting that he didn’t personally mention the young girl or family in question.
On Thursday, Richter reacting to a tweet asking CNN and “Cuomo Prime Time” host Chris Cuomo why they were continuing to have Lewandowski on the air.
“EXCELLENT QUESTION @CNN,” Richter responded.
TheWrap has reached out to CNN for comment.
I work (happily) for Turner, and I find it appalling and shameful that @CNN is still having Corey Lewandowski on their air after his repulsive insult towards disabled children. No mealy-mouthed explanation makes it okay. Wrong is wrong.
— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) June 22, 2018
EXCELLENT QUESTION @CNN https://t.co/m0BsMjW1FL
— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) June 22, 2018