MSNBC's Chris Matthews missing from SC primary coverage after sexism allegations, recent on-air controversies

MSNBC host Chris Matthews was not involved with his network's South Carolina Democratic primary coverage over the weekend, indicating that he may have been sidelined after a recent allegation of sexism from a former guest in addition to other on-air controversies.

Laura Bassett, a journalist who has been an MSNBC guest in the past, wrote an op-ed for GQ that was published Friday accusing Matthews, 74, of using sexist and inappropriate language toward her while she was in studio. Fox News reported:

She recalled Matthews looking at her in an adjacent makeup chair before an appearance in 2016 and asking: 'Why haven't I fallen in love with you yet?'" Bassett said she laughed nervously but Matthews kept making comments to the makeup artist. "Keep putting makeup on her, I'll fall in love with her," Matthews allegedly said.

She said he made another comment about her makeup during a separate appearance. "Make sure you wipe this off her face after the show," she wrote he said to the makeup artist. "We don't make her up so some guy at a bar can look at her like this."

Bassett wrote an op-ed about these allegations in 2017, but didn't name Matthews. It's also not the first time Matthews has faced misconduct allegations in the workplace. MSNBC reportedly paid $40,000 in 2017 to a producer who claimed Matthews sexually harassed her.

The sexual harassment issue follows an apology Matthews had to issue last week after comparing Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) Nevada caucuses victory to the Nazi invasion of France.

Matthews also mistook Jaime Harrison, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, for Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott during an interview with Harrison. Both men are black.

Matthews played a clip showing Scott standing next to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who Harrison is running to unseat. Matthews asked Harrison on air, "Jaime, I see you standing next to the guy you're going to beat right there, maybe? Maybe? Maybe, maybe? Lindsey Graham?"

Matthews realized his mistake shortly after, saying, "What am I saying? Big mistake. Mistaken identity, sir. Sorry."