Viewers were shocked and appalled when a white TV news presenter joked that her black co-host looked like a gorilla.
American presenter Alex Housden apologised for the outrageous comment, but viewers are still calling for her to be sacked.
https://twitter.com/KOCOAlex/status/1144930559287844864
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Alex and her co-host Jason Hackett were presenting their weekend show on KOCO 5 News in Oklahoma City, and were discussing a light-hearted item about a young gorilla at a zoo in the area.
After the report, Jason joked: “You can tell that he was ready for his close-up.”
“[He] kinda looks like you,” Alex replied.
Jason shrugged it off by saying: “He kind of does, actually, yeah” in reply.
White TV anchor Alex Housden apologizes on air for saying her black KOCO TV co-anchor, Jason Hackett, looks like a gorilla at the Oklahoma City Zoo.pic.twitter.com/4N1BBs8o4K
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) August 27, 2019
In a tearful apology the next day, Alex said: “I’m here this morning because I want to apologise, not only to my co-worker Jason, but to our entire community.
“I said something yesterday that was inconsiderate, it was inappropriate and I hurt people.
“I want you to know I understand how much I hurt you all out there and how much I hurt you.
“I would never do anything on purpose to hurt you.”
She has not been sacked from her job.
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
— El Crumb (@Coppinalltheyzy) August 27, 2019
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In response, Jason said that: “What she said yesterday was wrong.
“It cut deep for me and a lot of you in the community.
“The lesson here is that words matter.”
But people from around the world took to social media to voice their anger at Alex’s apology and lack of reprimand.
“This is NOT ACCEPTABLE,” one Twitter user said. “NO ONE SHOULD BE TOLD THAT THEY LOOK LIKE A GORILLA!! DEMAND THAT ALEX HOUSDEN BE FIRED!”
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