Ed Schultz Suspended For Calling Laura Ingraham a ‘Right Wing Slut’

Ed Schultz has been suspended for a week from his MSNBC show for calling Laura Ingraham a “right-wing slut.”

Schultz did not make the comments on television, but uttered the epithet on his syndicated radio show Tuesday. The internet freaked out, and Schultz, who replaced embattled former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann on the network following his controversial departure, quickly went off the air for a week without pay.

MSNBC did not take the transgression lightly, and released this statement chastising Schultz:

“MSNBC management met with Ed Schultz this afternoon and accepted his offer to take one week of unpaid leave for the remarks he made yesterday on his radio program. Ed will address these remarks on his show tonight, and immediately following begin his leave. Remarks of this nature are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Schultz, described by blog Politico as “visibly shaken,” also addressed the incident before stepping into time out. The anchor said the choice of words was the “lowest of the low” for him, and apologized profusely, adding:

“On my radio show yesterday, I used vile and inappropriate language with talking about talk show host Laura Ingraham. I am deeply sorry, and I apologize,” he said. “It was wrong, uncalled-for and I apologize for the severity of what I’ve said… I have embarrassed my family. I have embarrassed this company,” he said, a remark that New York Magazine’s Gabriel Sherman took as an indication of new MSNBC parent Comcast’s possibly laying down the law.

“I have never been in this position before, to the point where it has affected so many people, and I know that I have let a lot of people down,” he said.

Co-host Thomas Roberts will fill in for Schultz while he sits and thinks about what he’s done.