Matthews was also criticized for having a condescending tone in an interview with Sen. Elizabeth Warren over 2020 rival Mike Bloomberg’s nondisclosure agreements. And the Hardball host confused his guest Jaime Harrison, an African American candidate for U.S. Senate, with Republican Sen. Tim Scott, a fellow South Carolina pol who is also black.

On Saturday, journalist Laura Bassett published a GQ article of her own encounter with Matthews, detailing inappropriate comments he made about her appearance in the makeup room, before he had her as a guest on the show. Since then, reports resurfaced of Matthews having been reprimanded in 1999, for an incident that led to a legal settlement with an employee.

Matthews said Monday night that it was time for younger generations — who grew up with “better standards” — to take the reins. He said he was proud of the work he’s done and he’s not quite quitting politics: There’s another book on the way.

“Compliments on a woman's appearance that some men, including me, might have once incorrectly thought were OK were never OK. Not then and certainly not today. And for making such comments in the past, I'm sorry.”

Matthews added, “For those who have gotten in the habit of watching ‘Hardball’ every night — I hope you're going to miss me because I'm going to miss you.”