A news reporter has issued an apology after comparing President Obama’s smile to a watermelon.
According to the Daily Mail, Europe Editor for Channel 4 News Matt Frei received immediate backlash after saying Obama was “smiling like a split watermelon.”
Frei made the racist comparison while broadcasting the president’s meeting with Pope Francis in Washington, D.C. Wednesday.
The journalist issued an apology via Twitter and claimed he had no idea it was racially insensitive.
I'm sorry, did @Channel4News just say Obama was "smiling like a split watermelon"? WTF. No. Just no. How does that get past editorial?!
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) September 23, 2015
@Channel4news Matt Frei just said President Obama was smiling "like a split water melon" – isn't that old South racist? #c4news
— Paul Napier (@PaulJNapier) September 23, 2015
I apologise to those upset by my description of President Obama’s smile on tonight’s programme. 1/2
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) September 23, 2015
It was intended as an entirely innocent phrase that apparently has a history I simply wasn’t aware of. Honestly no offence intended. 2/2
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) September 23, 2015
