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When prompted by Colbert to talk more about his exit from Hardball and whether it came as a surprise to people at the network, Matthews looked back on the GQ story that sparked his departure in the first place. Last year, journalist Laura Basset recounted a “sexist run-in” with Matthews years earlier in 2016. Basset wrote that Matthews “looked over at me in the makeup chair next to him and said, ‘Why haven’t I fallen in love with you yet?'” and commented on her makeup and appearance.
On The Late Show, Matthews owned up to the story, telling Colbert, “It was a four-year-old story but it was accurate as hell. I accepted the truth.” He added, “In fact, I credited it in a couple of commentaries. I said, it’s all true. Don’t blame the messenger. I did it, I own this, nobody else is responsible for my trouble. I did it. It wasn’t ‘he said, she said.’ I said she was right, the reporter, and I want everybody to know who thinks they’re on my side on this: my side is the truth.”
Matthews explained that after the story was published, he chose to leave MSNBC. “The next day, I told the president of my network I’m leaving, and on that Monday night, they let me give a speech to the people telling them how I’ll miss them,” he said.
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