Morning News Anchor Apologizes After Comparing Black Co-Anchor To Gorilla {VIDEO}

During a morning broadcast on Oklahoma’s KOCO-TV, an ABC affiliate, Alex Housden was reporting on gorillas at the local zoo. While doing so, Housden told her co-anchor, Jason Hackett, a black man, it “kind of looks like you.” Hackett responded, “He kind of does, actually, yeah.”

It may have seemed innocent at the time but the optics make the situation say otherwise. History has shown that black people have been wrongly compared to primates and is a form of racism, obviously.

The following day, Housden did a tearful apology with Hackett by her side. “I’m here this morning because I want to apologize, not only to my co-anchor Jason but to our entire community,” she said. “I said something yesterday that was inconsiderate, that was inappropriate, and I hurt people. And I want you to understand how much I hurt you out there and how much I hurt you.”

Housden points out that the two are not only co-anchors but friends and that she “would never do anything on purpose to hurt you.” she said. “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, and I am so sorry.”

Hackett accepted her apology and pointed out that Housden is one of his best friends. “What she said yesterday was wrong,” he said. “It cut deep for me, and it cut deep for a lot of you in the community.”

He continued, “Coming out of this, I want this to be a teachable moment. The lesson here is that words matter.”

“We have to understand the stereotypes,” Hackett said. “We have to understand each other’s backgrounds and the words that hurt, the words that cut deep. We have to find a way to replace those words with love and words of affirmation, as well.”

Watch the videos below.

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Comment by Jerome S [ Barz ] on September 8, 2019 at 9:45am: So, a white woman on tv is racist .Film , at eleven . She's crying because she's never had to control it , but it's either control it or lose (viewers = $$$$). Her "buddy" Hackett isn't really a great friend, he would have checked her from day #1. Disrespected the station with that one "off-the-cuff joke", because they are behind her. Hackett needs sensitivity training. ASAP.

Comment by kenmore on September 3, 2019 at 7:45pm: but he does look like the gorilla though lollllllll, that is not a lie, its just a mean comment but you can not tell me after looking at his face that he do not look smiliar to it...be for real, he just tight lolllllll.... her fake ass crying deserves an emmy lolllllllllllllllllllllllllll you know she had to do the public apology on behalf of the news station and her job lollllllllllllllllllllllllll

Comment by Nexus on September 2, 2019 at 6:10pm: Don't know if I should laugh or rag on this fake B...bye with her fake ass crying and the level of coonery on brother man's part..what a waste of mind space...she's that "I have a black friend" type of racist..best friend for a whole year and a half..these people..

Comment by caribmama on September 2, 2019 at 1:52pm: Why apologize for how you really feel? That was bred in your heart and it was comfortable for you to spill it from your lips. So why apologize? Call yourself what you are.

Comment by Qupet1 on August 31, 2019 at 10:05pm: Hmmmm ok switch.....she just pissed me off with that fake ass apology. Stuuuueeps

Comment by mr1stroke on August 31, 2019 at 7:19pm: Lol okay let me get it, the Negro agrees with her, than again every negros on TV are a bunch of house niggers, do you see how they always kissing up to those white co workers, dont those white people always apologize after saying what they feel? But its okay because Negros alwaya forgive them and move on, the sad part they never forgive each other