TV host issues tearful apology after saying her black co-anchor looks like a gorilla. Video / KOCO5 / ABC
A US TV host has made a tearful apology to her black co-host after comparing him to a gorilla in a shocking segment.
Despite calls for her to be fired, Alex Housden from Oklahoma City's KOCO-TV will keep her job after telling her co-host Jason Hackett that a gorilla atthe local zoo "kinda looks like you".
The pair were presenting a story about a gorilla named Fin at the Oklahoma City Zoo and spoke over a close up shot of the ape staring into the camera.
"He's a resident at the Oklahoma City Zoo and this week the zoo's ape caretaker took over their Instagram and we are all loving that they did," Housden said.
"Now as you can see, Fin was fascinated by the camera."
"I said something yesterday that was inconsiderate, that was inappropriate, and I hurt people," Housden told her co-host.
"I hurt people. I want you to know I understand how much I hurt you out there and how much I hurt you."
The tearful host apologised on-air. Photo / Supplied
Housden went on to tell Hackett that she was humiliated, that she loved him and that he had been "one of her best friends for the past year and a half".
Hackett accepted the tearful apology, saying: "The lesson here is that words matter. We have to understand the stereotypes, we have to understand each other's backgrounds and the words that hurt, the words that cut deep."
Housden's apology wasn't enough for many viewers, who contacted the station demanding that she be sacked and took to Twitter to share their outrage.
HEY FOLKS! KOCO 5. HAS ALLOWED ALEX HOUSDEN BACK ON TV. I PHONED MANAGEMENT. THEY SAID IT WAS THEIR DECISION TO ALLOW HER TO KEEP HER JOB! If you do not agree with this decision. Please call (405)478-3000. And demand her removal! THANKS!
Imagine coming into work and your co-worker tells you that you look like an ape on National TV SMH....I can't make this up! @alexhousden_ should be ashamed of herself for that remark. @koconews obviously felt it was ok bc she's back on air...wow! pic.twitter.com/Q7JLQxU97v
Alex Housden should have checked herself before she allowed the racist and offensive words to leave her mouth! Shame on @koconews a slap on the hand and an apology is a slap in Hackett's face! I "was" a faithful viewer until now. Smh!!!
