A US television host has offered a tearful apology after she compared her black co-host to a gorilla live on air.
After a segment featuring a video of a gorilla at a zoo, KOCO-TV anchor Alex Housden said "it kind of looks like you" to her colleague Jason Hackett.
"I said something yesterday that was inconsiderate, it was inappropriate and I hurt people. And I want you to know that I understand how much I hurt you out there," Ms Housden said, following her initial comments which received widespread condemnation on social media.
Many social media users called for her to be fired.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"I want you to know from the bottom of my heart that I apologise for what I said and I know it is wrong," she added.
Mr Hackett accepted his co-host's apology, describing her as one of his best friends, but reiterated that there was "no excuse" for racial stereotyping.
“All that being said, and Alex will be the first to admit this to you, what she said yesterday was wrong," he said.
"It cut deep for me and a lot of you in the community. I want this to be a teachable moment, and the lesson here is that words matter.
"There is no excuse, we have to understand the stereotypes, each other's backgrounds and the words that hurt."
