“Fox & Friends” co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck weighed in on the Sandra Bland controversy on Monday, and social media wasn’t happy with what she had to say.
“I’m sure, someone has, in the history of this land, used a cigarette against a police officer, maybe chucked it at him, pushed it at him,” Hassleback said, suggesting that the arresting police officer was justified in asking Bland to put out her cigarette in the recently released dashcam video of the arrest.
“Is she trying to justify murder?” wrote Twitter user @quaymorris, referencing the fact that Bland’s death is being handled in the manner of a murder investigation, though initial reports suggest suicide.
Other users agreed that Hasselbeck’s comment blew the threat out of proportion. “Did Fox News think Sandra Bland could absorb the energy of her cigarette and hurl a fireball at the cop?” wrote @owillis.
Hasselbeck took to Twitter on Tuesday to defend herself. “I NEVER suggested Sandra Bland could have used a cigarette as a weapon. I asked whether it was wise to ask her to put it out,” she wrote, adding the hashtag #StopTheLies.
Bland’s body was found hanging in a Texas jail cell three days after she was arrested on July 10 for allegedly assaulting a police officer during a traffic stop. Dashcam video of the arrest released last week showed Texas state trooper Brian Encinia pulling Bland from her vehicle and threatening to tase her.
#Elisabethhaselbeck What’s your stake in this? Stop. Go away, you complete idiot. Are you kidding me. Just stop.
— Sarah Logan (@quirkygirlsarah) July 27, 2015
Fox’s Elisabeth Hasselbeck Suggests #SandraBland‘s Lit Cigarette Justified Police Conduct http://t.co/6Wqno07pqD pic.twitter.com/KwFclGcu0V — Alexander Yarde (@thatalexyarde) July 28, 2015
According to @ehasselbeck, this is what #SandraBland was armed with. Elisabeth, sweetie – you need therapy. pic.twitter.com/RJINlyUXjX
— Mo Fei Chen (@DynaMoChen) July 28, 2015
did fox news think sandra bland could absorb the energy of her cigarette and hurl a fireball at the cop? http://t.co/s1c5X3XMXQ — Oliver Willis (@owillis) July 27, 2015
Is she trying to justify murder? | Elisabeth Hasselbeck Suggests Sandra Bland Could’ve Used Her Cigarette As Weapon http://t.co/WmqVmmUaSw
— Quay Morris (@quaymorris) July 28, 2015
So… will @ehasselbeck call the cops if someone has a cigarette in front of her office building? #weapon — Reg Hunt (@RegPHunt) July 28, 2015
I hope @ehasselbeck stretched before making that ridiculous reach about Sandra Bland
— Sweetpea (╯︵╰,) (@dangerous_seoul) July 28, 2015
What an incredibly idiotic statement @ehasselbeck. Do you enjoy making yourself look heartless on national TV? — JessK (@i_amJessK) July 28, 2015
I NEVER suggested Sandra Bland could have used a cigarette as a weapon. I asked whether it was wise to ask her to put it out. #StopTheLies
– elisabeth hasselbeck (@ehasselbeck) July 28, 2015