ABC News anchor, George Stephanopoulos attempted to claim that Vice President Mike Pence was “mansplaining” to Kamala Harris during Wednesday’s vice-presidential debate. The remark was flimsy at best and the anchor was quickly corrected by a female panel for making the false accusation. During the post-debate analysis, Stephanopoulos said to a panel member, Sara Fagen, “Because obviously, Mike Pence is a former television commentator, does have a very calm demeanor, but I think that a lot of people were noticing some ‘mansplaining’ going on tonight.” Fagen quipped that she “didn’t see it that way” adding she did not think Pence was disrespectful to Harris or moderator Susan Page.

According to Fox News:

Stephanopoulos’ colleague, ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz, also dismissed the idea that Pence was “mansplaining.”

“When I hear people … talk about mansplaining and talk about these things with Kamala Harris and [say], ‘A man shouldn’t interrupt her and it’s going to look bad’ … Kamala Harris is a vice-presidential candidate. She should be able to stand up for herself,” Raddatz told Stephanopoulos later in the program.

“Yes, it’s history-making. Yes, you can talk about her history and who she is and she’s a woman of color there, but a man can interrupt another vice presidential candidate,” Raddatz went on. “It is up to that candidate to talk back, to interrupt themselves, or to hold on to that debate in any way they could.”

The weak claims by Stephanopoulos only go to show who the clear winner of the debate was, and it certainly was not Kamala Harris. A number of women blasted Stephanopoulos’ “mansplaining” claims.

Columnist Rita Panahi called the tactic “desperate.”

Lisa Boothe said, “Pence treated Kamal Harris as an equal last night, which is the ultimate sign of respect and equality.”

Donald Trump Jr. simply said, “winning a debate isn’t mansplaining!”

WATCH:

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