Former PR executive, Justine Sacco, angered many people worldwide when she posted a tweet about AIDS in Africa. She recently apologized, saying she is ashamed.
Daily Mail UK reported that Sacco tweeted a racist joke on Friday, on her way to Africa, that many did not take lightly.
"Going to Africa. Hope I don't get AIDS. Just Kidding. I'm White!" Sacco tweeted.
After being re-tweeted 3,000 times, the media got hold of it, and the story exploded worldwide, all while she was still on the plane. Moments after landing, her tweet and Twitter account was deleted.
Sacco has since posted an apology for those she offended, ABC News reports.
"Words cannot express how sorry I am, and how necessary it is for me to apologize to the people of South Africa, who I have offended due to a needless and careless tweet," Sacco said. "For being insensitive to this crisis -- which does not discriminate by race, gender or sexual orientation, but which terrifies us all uniformly - and to the millions of people living with the virus, I am ashamed."
She also went on to explain that she was in fact born in Africa.
"This is my father's country, and I was born here," Sacco said. "I cherish my ties to South Africa and my frequent visits, but I am in anguish knowing that my remarks have caused pain to so many people here; my family, friends and fellow South Africans. I am very sorry for the pain I caused."
Since the controversy, Sacco has been fired from her position at InterActive Corp, and they released a statement to ABC News, explaining that Sacco's actions do not reflect their views.
"There is no excuse for the hateful statements that have been made and we condemn them unequivocally," the InterActive Corp statement said.
#HasJustineLandedYet became a trending topic on Saturday, and is still getting tweets today, and even getting a few celebrity responses.
#HasJustineLandedYet- Justine, what the hell are you doing, are you crazy? Not nice or fair! I will support @AidForAfrica. Justine is FIRED!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2013
Thank you for donating to Aid for Africa (http://t.co/yNJ4KNdO3C) and turning a bad situation into a good one! #HasJustineLandedYet
— Aid for Africa (@AidforAfrica) December 22, 2013
That remark was just plain obnoxious and utterly stupid beyond the obvious horrific racism #HasJustineLandedYet
— Sanjeet Sahni (@SanjeetSahni) December 23, 2013
& she has the nerve to be going to a country that just lost an amazing man who fought against such ignorance #HasJustineLandedYet
— gHunt (@gisele4real) December 23, 2013