Chris Matthews on controversial MSNBC departure: 'Nobody needs to defend me. I did something wrong'

Former MSNBC host Chris Matthews appeared on The ReidOut Tuesday, the show that took his old Hardball time slot after he left the network amid controversy. Matthews abruptly retired from MSNBC last March after allegations of inappropriate behavior surfaced.

“I think the reason I — I know the reason I left, somebody reported that I complimented somebody — actually, I’m gonna use the right words here. I commented, remarked on somebody’s appearance in the makeup room, and I shouldn’t have done that,” Matthews said. “Nobody has to come defend me. And by the way, I kept all my friends, but nobody needs to defend me. I did something wrong. So I'm going to move on from that. I took ownership of it, using a nice modern phrase. I took complete ownership. I did not deny it. I lost my show over it. That's it. So that's the truth.”

The silver lining in his unplanned retirement, according to Matthews, is that he finally had time to sit down and write This Country, his new book about his lengthy career in politics and in the media.

Video Transcript

CHRIS MATTHEWS: I think the reason-- I know the reason I left, somebody reported that I complimented somebody. Actually, I'm going to sue the right words here. I commented, remarked on somebody's appearance in the makeup room. And I shouldn't have done that.

KYLIE MAR: Former MSNBC host Chris Matthews returned to his old timeslot Tuesday, appearing on "The ReidOut," where he spoke about leaving the network amid controversy.

Matthews abruptly retired last March, following allegations of inappropriate behavior.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Nobody has to come defend me. And by the way, I kept all my friends. But nobody needs to defend me. I did something wrong. So I'm going to move on from that. I accept it. I took [? ownershit ?] of it, using a nice moderate phrase. I have took complete ownership. I did not deny it. I lost my show over it. That's it. So that's the truth.

KYLIE MAR: Matthews said the bright side of retirement is that he finally had time to write "This Country," his new book about his decades long career in politics and in the media.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: It was an amazing experience to work within democracy and to see parts of the world fighting for democracy, like Nelson Mandela, and bringing down the Berlin Wall. I got to see it all in one lifetime. I want to share with the people that watched my show so faithfully all those years.