A West Virginia football fan has issued an apology and begged for online critics to leave her family alone after she was seen hurling a racist insult in a viral video.
Filmed before the annual ‘Backyard Brawl’ game between West Virginia (WVU) and Pittsburgh (Pitt) on September 13, the video shows a man dressed as Panthers fan antagonizing the rival Mountaineer supporters in Morgantown.
Ultimately the man told a passerby to ‘fix your makeup,’ which was met with a stunning response from the woman.
Walking away, she fired back at the African-American man, telling him to: ‘Fix your skin color.’
The stunned man immediately repeated the statement to confused onlookers.
That woman has now issued an apology on Instagram, while asking her new critics to leave her family alone.
‘I am going public so that this message reaches all audiences,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘I wanted to start by holding myself accountable for the comment I made in Snarps YouTube video. I realize how incredibly hurtful, offensive, and unacceptable those words were and it’s one of the most arrogant comments I have ever made.
The woman has issued an apology on Instagram, where she’s been facing significant criticism
The WVU fan has asked for her critics to direct their anger at her rather than her family
‘Regardless of my intentions, it carried racist undertones, and I take full accountability for saying them,’ she continued. ‘Words matter, and mine caused harm so for that, I am truly sorry.’
Before explaining how the incident has impacted her family, the woman first insisted ‘there was never any racist intent behind’ her words.
‘I totally see how my comment may be interpreted and the backlash I’m receiving for it is completely reasonable,’ she added before again insisting: ‘I am not a racist person.’
From there she asked that her critics focus their commentary towards her and away from her family.
She insisted she’s not a racist, but did admit her words were ‘hurtful’ and ‘offensive’
She also asked that her family be left alone so that she can face any consequences
‘My family has been receiving hate and even threats, which is not okay whatsoever,’ she wrote. ‘They had absolutely nothing to do with this situation and do not deserve to be targeted. I ask that people direct their criticism and accountability toward me-not them.’
Claiming she isn’t looking for forgiveness, the woman said she plans on reflecting and learning so she can ‘grow from this.’
‘I just ask that my family and friends stay left alone as they shouldn’t be paying the consequences for my own actions,’ she concluded.
The original video was posted by a YouTuber identified as Snarp, although it was another individual who was seen antagonizing WVU fans in this particular clip.
