When conservative Fox News host Bill O'Reilly was asked during an appearance on "Fox & Friends" to comment on U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters' impassioned remarks about President Donald Trump's policies, O'Reilly said he hadn't heard a word she'd said because of her "James Brown wig."

"This dude..." sighed Deanna Brown Thomas, president of  The James Brown Family Foundation in Augusta, where she gave us a tour of the James Brown exhibition at the Augusta Museum of History in the video below. " It amazes me how they have no problem with making jokes when serious issues are being discussed."

MORE: The memorable day I spent with James Brown

The California Congresswoman's response: "I am a strong black woman.  I cannot be intimidated, and I'm not going anywhere."   #BlackWomenAtWork

She discussed it later on MSNBC:

Earlier, Twitter let O'Reilly have it.

Here's the remark that drew such ire. (Media Matters posted a longer clip; this is a shorter segment).

Incidentally, James Brown's hair, costumes, performances and his legendary work ethic were always flawless, but that's beside the point. Here's our video with Deanna:

Godfather daughter Yamma Brown Alexander threw some shade O'Reilly's way.

"That was a compliment Bill O’Reilly ..dad's hair was always laid!! But that's all you got from what Maxine Waters said? Sad!" she posted on Instagram and Facebook.

 James Brown on Oct. 24, 1980. AJC file photo: W.A. BRIDGES, JR.

Credit: Jennifer Brett

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Credit: Jennifer Brett

O'Reilly has apologized, saying in a statement:

Waters' beliefs, by the way:

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