A television host from Fox News has been forced to apologize for the statements made on live television hours after Robin Williams was announced dead.
Shepard ‘Shep’ Smith called Williams ‘such a coward’ when reporting the death of the later actor and comedian and has been met with a force of media backlash, reports the New York Daily News. The television host stated, “Something inside you is so horrible or you’re such a coward or whatever the reason that you decide that you have to end it. Robin Williams, at 63, did that today,” during his broadcast and also made reference to Williams’ last Instagram post that was of him and his daughter from when she was a baby.
“One of the children he so loved, one of the children grieving tonight because their father killed himself in a fit of depression,” had commented Shepard and now the host is issuing an apology for his statements. Shepard told website Medialite today that, “I would never presume to know anything about his private life. And if any of his family members and friends were to have seen me use the word ‘coward,’ I would be horrified.”
Shepard also apologized by stating, “To the core of my being, I regret it. It just came out of my mouth. And I’m so sorry. And to anyone and their families who see that, I am sorry.”
Robin Williams was 63 and will be missed. Watch the full video below.
image courtesy of INFevents.com