Drudge Report says Ann Coulter has been “banned for life” from NBC, quoting an anonymous NBC source saying, “We are just not going to have her on any more.”
Late today, NBC News denied the story with this statement: “We’ve had Ann Coulter on ‘Today’ many times, but because of the news in Washington and the Middle East, we decided to cancel her appearance tomorrow. Understanding the media as well as she does, we are sure she knows this happens from time to time. We look forward to welcoming her back in the future.”
On her Web site, Coulter writes that she was booked for an interview, but was canceled this afternoon. “I guess this ends the ‘they just want to get ratings’ argument about liberal media bias,” she writes.
Coulter was also to appear on the “Today” show’s fourth hour. Hoda Kotb even teased the segment saying the “conservative pit bull and bestselling author” would be a guest.
The Drudge story says NBC “replaced Coulter with showbiz reporter Perez Hilton,” who also has a book being released tomorrow. NBC tells TVNewser Hilton is just appearing in the fourth hour and had been booked far in advance.
Following Coulter’s comments about Jews on The Big Idea in October 2007, TVNewser asked Today show anchor Matt Lauer if Coulter would be invited back to “Today:”
I think we’re going to make that decision on a case by case basis. I mean, if there’s something in the news that she has a vital view on, then I think we would consider having her back on. In terms of having her back on just to be outrageous, that probably wouldn’t happen. She’s a tough call, because you have to kind of walk a fine line. She is someone that a lot of people find outrageous, and as a result, don’t want to hear her voice. And yet she does reach a lot of people, and she gets people to react. At some point you have to make a decision whether it’s quality or quantity or whether it’s just volume or quality. And I think we should make that on a case by case basis.
Coulter will be appearing on CBS’ The Early Show tomorrow, instead.
Update: Coulter will also appear on Fox & Friends at 8:15amET.