A white Oklahoma news anchor gave a tearful apology on-air after she said her black co-host looked like a gorilla.
“I said something yesterday that was inconsiderate, it was inappropriate, and I hurt people,” KOCO morning anchor Alex Housden told viewers with her co-host, Jason Hackett, by her side, USA Today reported.
“I love you so much and you have been one of my best friends for the past year and a half and I would never do anything to hurt you,” she continued, turning to Mr. Hackett. “I love our community, and I want you all to know, from the bottom of my heart, I apologize for what I said. I know it was wrong.”
Ms. Housden drew backlash last week after she joked about Mr. Hackett’s appearance while showing footage of a gorilla at the Oklahoma City Zoo.
“Kind of looks like you,” she said, laughing.
“Yeah,” Mr. Hackett responded.
Mr. Hackett said Tuesday that Ms. Housden’s comment “cut deep” but that he hoped to turn the experience into a “teachable moment.”
“I do accept your apology and I do appreciate your apology,” he told his co-host.
“The lesson here is that words matter,” he said. “There’s no excuse. We have to understand the stereotypes, we have to understand each other’s backgrounds and the words that hurt, the words that cut deep.”
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