Former CNN anchor Rick Sanchez has broken his silence, and released a statement apologizing for the “inartful” comments he made last week. Those comments ended up costing Sanchez his job.
Last week Sanchez called comedian Jon Stewart a “bigot,” and then said “a lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot like Stewart.”
In the statement Sanchez confirmed that he called Stewart to apologize, and added that he has “nothing but the highest regard for CNN and for my six wonderful years with them.”
His full statement is below.
On October 4th, I had a very good conversation with Jon Stewart, and I had the opportunity to apologize for my inartful comments from last week. I sincerely extend this apology to anyone else whom I may have offended.
As Jon was kind enough to note in his show Monday night, I am very much opposed to hate and intolerance, in any form, and I have frequently spoken out against prejudice. Despite what my tired and mangled words may have implied, they were never intended to suggest any sort of narrow-mindedness and should never have been made.
In the aftermath of these comments, CNN and I have decided to part ways. However, I want to go on record to say that I have nothing but the highest regard for CNN and for my six wonderful years with them. I appreciate every opportunity that they have given me, and it has been a wonderful experience working for them. I have tremendous respect for everyone there, and I know that they feel the same about me. There are no hard feelings – just excitement about a new future of opportunities.
I look forward to my next step with great anticipation. In the meantime, I will continue to promote my book, Conventional Idiocy, in the hopes of broadening the discussion to get a better understanding between all Americans, regardless of race, creed or religion.