Oklahoma City meteorologist Shelby Hays has apologized for using the term “Indian giver” on air Wednesday morning.
“I send my deepest apologies,” Hays said in a post on Facebook. “I had no idea that’s what it meant. I have been informed now & can promise I will never say that again. We live & we learn.”
While discussing the “gift” of a nice weather forecast for the holidays, Hays said things would change quickly by the weekend. “It’s the Indian gift-giving, that’s what my Dad calls it, where you get something and it gets taken away.”
Viewers of Hays’ station, ABC affiliate KOCO, were forgiving–many of whom, like Hays herself, have ties to Oklahoma’s Native American tribes. “Thank y’all, I really appreciate the kind words & your forgiving hearts,” Hays said. “I feel awful. Hope that others will give me another chance.”