MSNBC host on viral on-air prayer: Felt like we could use a little prayer

By Billy Hallowell (Pureflix), Pureflix.com Tuesday, April 14, 2020

MSNBC host Craig Melvin (L) bows his head after asking Bishop T.D. Jakes (R) to pray on air, March 30, 2020. | Screenshot: MSNBC

MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin recently sent a viral shockwave through the cable news and Internet realms when he randomly asked the Bishop T.D. Jakes to pray on live TV.

In an interview with "The Pure Flix Podcast," Melvin revealed that the incredibly viral moment was "totally unscripted" and that he hadn't told producers beforehand.

"We got to the end of the segment ... in that moment it felt like we could collectively use a little prayer," the NBC and MSNBC host said. "And he was there and I was there and, without giving my producer or directors a head up, I asked him to bow and pray."

Listen to Melvin reveal these details:

Melvin said the moment was embraced by many, calling the overall reaction to it "very positive."

And he also believes the current COVID19 crisis has exposed some fascinating realities about the human experience.

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"We are living in the most unusual time of my life, where people ... are being asked ... to stay away from each other," Melvin said. "But at the same time, I maintain there is this new connectedness that has emerged from this."

He added, "I don't think as many people fully appreciated how much we need to interact with each other face-to-face — that's who we are as creatures of God."

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Listen to "The Pure Flix Podcast" to hear Melvin explain the prayer segment, his path into media and his belief in the essentiality of truth.

This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free trial here.

Billy Hallowell, author of "The Armageddon Code," has contributed to TheBlaze, the Washington Post, Human Events, the Daily Caller, Mediaite, and the Huffington Post, among other news sites. Through journalism, media, public speaking appearances, and the blogosphere, Hallowell has worked as a journalist and commentator for more than a decade.