EntertainmentDonald TrumpJimmy FallonSamantha Bee

Samantha Bee Perfectly States The Problem With Jimmy Fallon's Donald Trump Interview

“I guess because ratings matter more than brown people."
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By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

Samantha Bee isn’t happy with Jimmy Fallon and NBC’s lighthearted treatment of Donald Trump. 

During her “Full Frontal” monologue on Monday night, the host called out Fallon for his chummy interview with the Republican presidential candidate and his employer for its tendency to go for ratings gold over substance.

“Why do so many Americans think playing footsie with fringe hate groups isn’t a disqualifier from polite society, much less the presidency?” Bee asked her viewers. “Maybe because that’s the message they get from entertainment giants like NBC.”

Bee said the network “tacitly condoned a race-baiting demagogue,” supporting Trump (and his NBC show, “The Celebrity Apprentice”) while he spewed birther theories about President Obama.

The talk show host also pointed out that it took his calling Mexicans “rapists” for NBC to cut ties with Trump in 2015. Even then, the network still invited the GOP candidate back to host “Saturday Night Live” a few months later, and, last week, to pal around with Fallon on “The Tonight Show.”

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Pals.
NBC via Getty Images

“I guess because ratings matter more than brown people,” Bee said. “Sure, he’s making life palpably dangerous for Muslims and immigrants, but, hey, he’s good entertainment!” 

She then explained exactly why NBC would choose to bring Trump back onscreen: “Network execs and a lot of their audience can ignore how very dangerous Trump is, because, to them, he isn’t.” 

“They’re not gonna be deported. They’re not gonna live under a president who thinks of them as a collection of sex toys. They’re not racist. They just don’t mind if other people are, which is just as bad,” she concluded.

Tell em, Bee! 

Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularlyincitespolitical violence and is a

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Before You Go

Donald Trump Is Name-Caller In Chief
"Crooked Hillary" - former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton(01 of14)
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Trump has also called Clinton a "disaster," "not a talented person or politician," a "liar" and "SAD." (credit:Mark Makela via Getty Images)
"Rapists" - The people of Mexico(02 of14)
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In a June 2015 speech, Trump made inflammatory comments about Mexican immigrants, saying:

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best... They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” (credit:Kay Maeritz / LOOK-foto via Getty Images)
"Pocahontas" - Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)(03 of14)
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Trump has repeatedly referred to the senator as “Pocahontas” because of an old controversy over her claims of Native American heritage. (credit:Robyn Beck/Getty Images)
"Liberal clown" - Arianna Huffington(04 of14)
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Trump was expressing anger over the Huffington Post co-founder's initial decision to cover his campaign in the site's entertainment section. (credit:Denis Balibouse / Reuters)
"Lyin' Ted" - Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)(05 of14)
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Trump was so proud of his nickname for his former opponent in the bid for the Republican nomination that he even spelled out "Lyin' Ted" for his supporters -- who happily chanted the taunt back. (credit:Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
"Dumb as a rock" - CNN's Don Lemon(06 of14)
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Trump bashed Lemon following an Aug. 9 CNN segment where the host had several panelists discuss Trump's "Second Amendment" comments, in which Trump implied his supporters could shoot Hillary Clinton if she won. (credit:Charles Sykes/Invision/Associated Press)
"Low energy" - Jeb Bush(07 of14)
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If Trump had a favorite insult for the former Florida governor, this was it. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
"An incompetent judge!" - Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg(08 of14)
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Trump blasted the justice after she suggested his presidency would be dangerous for the U.S. (credit:Mike Groll/AP)
"Little Marco" - Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)(09 of14)
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Trump lobbed this insult at Rubio on several occasions, including to his face during a debate among Republican presidential hopefuls. (credit:Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
"Crazy!" - Fox News' Megyn Kelly(10 of14)
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Trump repeatedly attacked the Fox News anchor after he accused her of being unfair to him during a Republican presidential debate she moderated. (credit:Victoria Will/Invision/AP)
"Truly weird" (and it gets worse) - Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)(11 of14)
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After a debate last year, Trump tweeted:

"Truly weird Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky reminds me of a spoiled brat without a properly functioning brain. He was terrible at DEBATE!" (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
"Mental basketcase" - Conservative radio and TV personality Glenn Beck(12 of14)
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The diss was delivered, naturally, via Twitter. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
"Slob, "degenerate," "disgusting" - Rosie O'Donnell(13 of14)
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Trump has called the former TV host a "disaster" and said she has a "fat, ugly face." (credit:Dennis Van Tine/ABACA USA)
"Extremely hostile" - U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel(14 of14)
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The reason for Curiel's alleged hostility, according to Trump: his Mexican heritage. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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