UK twins Lucy and Maria Aylmer, 18, are turning heads because they’re non-identical. Fairly standard, right?
Except, being that genetic expression is totally random, Lucy got her white father’s skin and hair texture, while Maria favors her mother, with brown skin and curly hair.
All anchor Samantha Armytage needed to do was convey that information before their interview started. She didn’t. Instead, she complimented Lucy on being born with lighter skin which… thanks?
Here’s what Armytage said:
The Aylmer twins come from a mixed-race family in the UK. Maria has taken after her half-Jamaican mom with dark skin and brown eyes and curly, dark hair. But Lucy got her dad’s fair skin — good on her — along with straight red hair and blue eyes.
Good on her?
Here’s her co-anchor’s stunned reaction when he heard it live:
Here’s her slightly tone-deaf apology:
I would be mortified if anyone thought I would say or think anything racist. It’s not in my nature. To anyone who I might have offended, I’m sorry. (via)
Armytage has issued this statement of confusion and surprise at her own racist bias when she could just admit wrongdoing. With no qualifiers about her being “mortified” at the thought.
Newsflash: The mortifying part already happened, Samantha.
(Via Daily Mail)