Catalina Camia

USA TODAY

Controversy stems from segment on Melissa Harris-Perry show about diversity in GOP

Romney has an adopted%2C black grandson

2012 GOP presidential nominee said he%27ll move on after %27heartfelt%27 apology

Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Sunday accepted an apology from MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry, who expressed remorse for a segment on her show that poked fun at Romney's adopted, black grandson.

Romney, appearing on Fox News Sunday, said he is moving on from the incident.

"I recognize that people make mistakes and the folks at MSNBC made a big mistake," the 2012 GOP standard-bearer said. "They've apologized for it. That's all you can ask for. I am going to move on from that. I am sure they want to move on from it."

During Harris-Perry's year-in-review program, the panel on her MSNBC show discussed the GOP's lack of diversity by commenting on a Romney family photo of the politician, his wife and numerous grandchildren. In the segment, panelist Pia Glenn sang, "one of these things is not like the others, one of these things just isn't the same."

Kieran James Romney, who is black, is the adopted son of Ben Romney, the fourth of the Romneys' five sons. Mitt Romney proudly announced the child's adoption — with a picture on Twitter — in September.

Harris-Perry apologized Saturday on the air, and in an earlier statement to the Romney family. She explained that the controversial segment had gone awry.

"Whatever the intent was, the reality is that the segment proceeded in a way that was offensive and showing the photo in that context of that segment was poor judgment. So without reservation or qualification, I apologize to the Romney family."

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, said public figures such as himself are "fair targets" and politicians can expect "incoming."

"For children, that's beyond the line," he said, adding he believed the MSNBC apology was a "heartfelt" one.

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