US news anchor apologizes after comparing black colleague to ape
PTI, Aug 28, 2019, 11:11 AM IST
Washington: A television news anchorwoman in the US apologised on-air after comparing her black colleague to a gorilla, NBC News reported Tuesday.
Alex Housden of KOCO 5 News in Oklahoma City made the remark last Thursday during a segment on an ape whose handler was running the local zoo’s Instagram for the day.
When a video of a baby gorilla appeared on screen, Housden, who is white, turned to her black co-anchor, Jason Hackett, and said that the ape “kind of looks like you,” NBC reported.
The following day, a tearful Housden apologised to Hackett, saying: “I said something yesterday that was inconsiderate, it was inappropriate, and I hurt people.”
“I want you all to know from the bottom of my heart, I apologise for what I said. I know it was wrong and I am so sorry.”
Hackett accepted her apology, but acknowledged that the words “cut deep for me.”
“I want this to be a teachable moment and that lesson here is that words, words matter,” he said.
“There’s no doubt about that.”
The incident comes amid heightened racial tensions in the US following a series of remarks by Republican President Donald Trump directed at lawmakers from the Democratic opposition that have been criticised as racist.
The president in July said four Democratic lawmakers of color should “go back” to where they came from, then later called Baltimore, a majority-black city, a “dangerous & filthy place.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Biden administration official backs reform of UN in response to Musk’s comments on permanent UNSC seat for India
Russia initiates withdrawal of peacekeeping forces from Karabakh as Azerbaijan takes full control of the region
Unprecedented rainfall in Dubai: Social media flooded with visuals of submerged airport & streets
Israel’s Defense Innovations: From Iron Dome to Arrow 3
Heavy rains set off flash floods killing 33 people in Afghanistan
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Low back pain, depression, headaches main causes of poor health: Study
Can AI Read Our Minds? And Should We Be Worried About It?
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Zero voter turnout in 6 Nagaland districts amid shutdown call by ENPO over separate territory demand
CET 2024: At least 45 questions out of syllabus, claim students
Former BJP MLAs Malikayya Guttedar, Sharada Shetty join Congress