Former NFL player threatens MSNBC host with lawsuit over 'child abuse' attack: 'She needs to be held accountable'

Former NFL player Jack Brewer is threatening to promptly sue MSNBC host Joy Reid for accusing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of actions "tantamount to child abuse."

What is the background?

After DeSantis signed into law the Stop WOKE (Wrongs Against Our Kids and Employees) Act last Friday, Reid attacked DeSantis over young black boys who held anti-critical race theory signs at the bill-signing ceremony.

"This mis-use of Black boys is tantamount to child abuse," Reid said. "I would really like to hear the back-story on who these kids were and how they wound up at a DeSantis event. Given how anti-Black DeSantis is, using Black children this way is extra sick."

Reid later said the boys were used as "props" by DeSantis, whom she described as "America's most racist governor." She even claimed without evidence the boys "may not have known in advance why they were there."

What is happening now?

Brewer, who played in the NFL from 2002 to 2006, is now demanding an apology from Reid — or else he will sue her for defamation.

Despite Reid claiming the boys were from a Miami-area charter school, Brewer told the Washington Examiner the boys are members of an after-school program operated by his foundation, the Jack Brewer Foundation.

"She has completely humiliated my kids and my program," Brewer told the news outlet. "It's just so hurtful, and she needs to be held accountable.

"She does it so often. And you know, her words and the way that she comes across to black America leaves a stain on all of us," he added. "I won't put up with it when it comes to my kids."

Brewer explained that he planned to send a letter to Reid demanding an apology. If she refuses, his counsel is prepared to file a defamation lawsuit against her.

In a separate interview with Fox News, Brewer said Reid exemplifies "the crisis going on in black America."

"We are a faith-based program where we stand firm on the word of God," Brewer said. "For people to be questioned … this is just a tragedy, and this is the problem with black America. This is the problem with underserved communities right here. Joy Reid is the example of the crisis going on in black America."

"The biggest concern that we both have is just for the safety and protection of my kids and our program," he explained. "We've received several phone calls from parents and different people who are obviously getting calls and harassed by folks in regards to this crazy thing that Joy did."

Meanwhile, Brewer confirmed that the boys, in fact, wanted to be at the ceremony.

"It was explained to them on the bus ... It was explained to them while they were there. Yeah, my kids don't identify with CRT because we don't believe in it," Brewer said. "We believe in loving everybody and not separating people by their skin color. That's what we teach. Our program teaches to love this country. To love God first. To love their neighbor as themselves."

Anything else?

Reid has not responded to Brewer's demand.

However, DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw celebrated Brewer's remarks, describing them as the "perfect response to a nasty bully."