WLBT morning anchor Barbie Bassett has apologized for an “offensive” comment she made on air Friday at the Jackson, Miss. NBC affiliate.
During a live shot on Friday, Bassett referred to Carmen Poe‘s grandmother as her “grandmammy,” which was a term slaves used for their grandmothers. Poe is African-American.
On Monday, the station said it has had “meaningful internal conversations and discussions about this situation.”
Bassett apologized, saying, “I now understand how my comment was both insensitive and hurtful. I have apologized to Carmen Poe.”
Her complete statement is posted below:
“Last Friday on our newscast ‘Today at 11’, I used a term that was offensive to many in our audience and to my coworkers here at WLBT. Though not intentional, I now understand how my comment was both insensitive and hurtful. I have apologized to Carmen Poe.
Now, I would like to apologize to you. That is not the heart of who I am. And for that, I humbly ask for your forgiveness and I apologize to everyone I have offended. I will learn from this and participate in training so I can better understand our history and our people.
I can’t mend the hurt my comment caused. I pray you’ll forgive me and that you’ll extend grace through this awful mistake.”