Wajahat Ali says Rula Jebreal's 'monkey' remark has racist connotations
Wajahat AliHost of The Left Hook
Ali immediately warned that applying the word “monkey” to a Black person carries serious racist connotations while acknowledging Jebreal’s stated lack of racial intent.
Responding to
Jebreal’s use of “monkey” and “errand boy” to describe Jeffries was racist anti-Black language regardless of her stated intent.
“Using monkey to anyone Black, it has terrible racial connotations. But I think you caught yourself and said you didn't mean it with any racial animosity.”
Original video
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Were Rula Jebreal’s remarks about Hakeem Jeffries racist?
During a September 2, 2026 appearance on The Left Hook, Rula Jebreal described House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries as a “bought and paid by AIPAC monkey” and “basically an errand boy,” while immediately denying racial intent. Jebreal later apologized for the terms. The Congressional Black Caucus and several lawmakers characterized the wording as racist, while Wajahat Ali and Joy-Ann Reid emphasized intent and surrounding context while also criticizing the language.
Source and context
Original video
About this source
Full episode of The Left Hook containing Jebreal's remarks about Jeffries and Ali's subsequent on-air response.
Reporting
About this source
Reports the disputed wording, the immediate exchange between Ali and Jebreal, and several later public responses with links to the original posts.
Before the quotation
Jebreal had called Jeffries a “bought and paid by AIPAC monkey” and then said she did not mean the term racially.
After the quotation
Jebreal explained that she meant the three wise monkeys and later issued an unconditional apology for using the term.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The response both challenges the language and gives weight to the speaker’s stated intent, so it is conditional rather than a categorical defense or condemnation.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Rula Jebreal, Hakeem Jeffries
More from this case
Read the full caseMehdi Hasan defends Jebreal: "she is not a racist or bigot"
“Rula offered an unconditional apology... Anyone who knows Rula... knows she is not a racist or bigot.”Read statement
Symone Sanders Townsend says Jebreal's apology ignored anti-Black history
“Without acknowledging that history, that is not an apology.”Read statement
Peter Beinart calls Jebreal's language racist, defends her wider record
“Rula Jebreal used racist language to criticize Hakeem Jeffries. Her comments were clearly wrong.”Read statement
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Wajahat Ali says Rula Jebreal's 'monkey' remark has racist connotations
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/387-ali-immediately-warned-that-applying-the-word-monkey
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Wajahat Ali says Rula Jebreal's 'monkey' remark has racist connotations". First published: 2026-09-11. Last updated: 2026-09-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/387-ali-immediately-warned-that-applying-the-word-monkey