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'Racist' Joy Reid rubbishes Gabby Petito coverage as missing White woman syndrome

Joy Reid commented, 'why not same media attention when people of color go missing?'

TV host Joy Reid was branded 'racist' by social media after she called the nationwide interest on the possibly dead vlogger Gabby Petito's case as “missing White woman syndrome." Reid's aim was to point out the lack of similar interest cases involving people of color.

Petito was reported missing after her fiance Brian Laundrie returned to his North Port home in Florida on September 1, in the same van he and Petito had embarked on their journey in, back in July this year. The last time Petito's mom Nichole Schmidt heard from her was on August 26, and Petito claimed there was a poor network at a national park in Yosemite via a text message. Immediately after Laundrie returned, he hired an attorney and refused to speak to authorities. He was subsequently labeled a "person of interest" and is now reported missing as well. It has been a week since then as the FBI continues to crackdown on Laundrie's whereabouts. Meanwhile, human remains matching Petito's physical description were discovered at a Wyoming park pending an autopsy. 

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'Missing White Woman Syndrome'

Pointing to similar incidents leading to the disappearance of other people of color, Joy Reid commented during her show, "The way this story captivated the nation has many wondering, why not the same media attention when people of color go missing? Well, the answer actually has a name: Missing White Woman Syndrome — the term coined by the late and great Gwen Ifill to describe the media and public fascination with missing White women like Laci Peterson or Natalee Holloway, while ignoring cases involving people of color."

She then cited the case of geologist Daniel Robinson who went missing in June this year. The 24-year-old Black man was last seen on 23 June driving a Jeep Renegade from his work site near Sun Valley Parkway and Cactus Road in Arizona and has not been heard from since. “I never heard of it until this friend of mine sent it to me. And I guess, that’s the issue, isn’t it?” Reid said during a panel discussion. Panelist Derrica Wilson of Black and Missing Foundation agreed and said, “It is definitely the issue. Cases, where people of color, men, women and children go missing, are not taken seriously."

"Systematic failure to counter racism is one of the reasons for such a discrimination in crimes," said panelist Lynette Grey Bull of the Not Our Native Daughters Foundation. "One of the main factors and one of the key factors that a lot of people don’t want to talk about is that it’s racism. It’s systemic racism."

'Idiotic statements by a black woman syndrome'

Reid was immediately criticized on social media for trying to turn Petito's case into a race war. "Hey Joy Reid, the entire country almost shutdown for George Floyd… what color was he you racist CUN7??" one user wrote, while another said, "Joy Reid is a racist. She's not to be taken seriously." A third noted, "Ah the racist joy Reid making this about race again. Shocking! What’s the media’s obsession with white cops killing black men? Like that criminal last year…what was his name again? Oh yeah. George Floyd. But still silence on #DavidDorn".

The next added, "@MSNBC 'white woman gon missing syndrome' Joy skank Reid said? Really. Fire her. She needs to be gone. Joy Reid is a liability and a piece of shit." One more stated, "I’m actually surprised that it took Joy Reid this long to make this sad, sad story about race . What a insensitive and distasteful person she is." A commenter tweeted, "Joy Reid is the worst. Complains that #GabbyPepito story is getting coverage when a young black man also went missing in the desert. She said it’s the same thing. Ok, where’s the crime, Joy? Thousands are missing- black and white, you race-baiting moron." A person reacted with, "Joy Reid is the symptom of 'idiotic statements by a black woman syndrome.'"