Bill O'Reilly faced backlash on Tuesday morning after saying he was too distracted by Rep. Maxine Waters' "James Brown wig" to listen to anything she was saying.

The host made the comments during Fox & Friends while watching a clip of the California Democrat giving a speech on the House floor about how it is patriotic to criticize the president.

"We fight against this president and we point out how dangerous he is," Waters said. "We're saying to those who say they're patriotic, but they turn a blind eye to the destruction he is about to cause to this country, 'You are not nearly as patriotic as we are.'"

When O'Reilly was asked to respond to Waters' comments, he completely disregarded her words and focused on her appearance instead.

"I didn't hear a word she said," he replied. "I was looking at the James Brown wig."

Two of O'Reilly's cohosts quickly joined in on the "joke," but Ainsley Earnhardt interrupted to defend the Congresswoman.

"You can’t go after a woman’s looks," she said. "I think she’s very attractive."

"I didn't say she wasn't attractive," O'Reilly replied. "I love James Brown, but it's the same hair."

Just a few hours later, O'Reilly apologized for his comments.

"As I have said many times, I respect Congresswoman Maxine Waters for being sincere in her beliefs," he said in a statement. "I said that again today on Fox & Friends, calling her 'old school.' Unfortunately, I also made a jest about her hair which was dumb. I apologize."