A segment of NBC News was abruptly cut short after an enraged Mississippi resident violently clashed Monday with NBC News correspondent Shaquille Brewster during a live report on the devastating damage triggered by Hurricane Ida.
With large strips of Louisiana and Mississippi submerged in darkness and decimated after Category 4 Ida arrived Sunday, Brewster reported live from a beach in Gulfport, Mississippi, Monday morning.
Brewster explained that the mayor of the city was still applying a curfew when they examined the damage. At the same time, a pickup truck stopped at the back of Brewster’s shot, with an elderly, middle-aged man jumping out of the vehicle and running toward the NBC News crew.
Maintaining his composure, Brewster tried to continue delivering his report on the aftermath of the hurricane, but eventually the man transformed and began yelling at both the camera and the reporter.
Speaking to MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin, Brewster said he should re-launch him into the studio as the man’s behavior made it impossible to finish his segment. At that moment, the boy flew with incoherent rage and got into Brewster’s face, apparently calling the correspondent to “report it accurately.”
When one of the crew members tried to grab the heckler as he ran menacingly towards Brewster, the control room quickly pulled away from the scene and returned to an impacted Melvin.
“Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, “exclaimed a worried Melvin.” We’re going to check in with Shaq Brewster just to make sure everything goes well. There are a lot of crazy people out there. There are a lot of crazy people! ”
After conducting an interview with Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) on hurricane rescue and damage assessment efforts, Melvin informed the MSNBC audience that Brewster was fine after the terrifying incident.
“You probably saw or heard a few moments ago, one of our correspondents was interrupted by a crazy guy during his live shoot in Mississippi,” Melvin said after Carter’s interview. “I am delighted to report that Shaquille Brewster is fine. Shaq is fine. “
Melvin would tweet later that the unidentified Mississippi man’s behavior was “unacceptable and disgusting,” adding that the boy “clearly isn’t” okay.
Meanwhile, Brewster would go to Twitter to reassure concerned viewers that he and his team were “all good.”
Several Brewster NBC News colleagues offered support after the distressing incident, applauding the “balance and class” exhibited by “Phenomenal Reporter” as approached by a “dishonored man.”
Meanwhile, MSNBC President Rashida Jones made the following statement: “Shaq Brewster is an exceptional journalist. Like the consummate professional, he didn’t let anyone intimidate him from doing his job. We are glad that he and the team are safe and we can not be more proud and supportive of their work. “