In a second attempt at walking back shocking comments, CNN's Fredricka Whitfield on Monday actually used the word "apology." The journalist appeared two days after calling a gunman who attacked the Dallas police department "courageous and brave."
Whitfield conceded, "I misspoke, terribly. I misused those words terribly and I sincerely apologize for making this statement and I understand now how offensive it was." She added, "I want to reiterate that in no way do I believe the gunman was courageous or brave."
After an awkward pause, Newsroom anchor Brooke Baldwin ended the segment.
Earlier on Monday, the Dallas Police Association attacked Sunday's "flippant non-apology."
On Sunday, Whitfield stuck with the word "misspoke," saying, "Yesterday, during a segment on the Dallas Police Department attack, I used the words courageous and brave when discussing the gunman. I misspoke and in no way believe the gunman was courageous nor brave."
On Saturday, while discussing an attack on a Dallas police headquarters, Whitfield originally said, "An operation like this, it now spans 18 miles. It was very courageous and brave, if not crazy as well, to open fire on the police headquarters."
A transcript of Monday's apology is below:
Newsroom
6/15/15
3:13BROOKE BALDWIN: And now, I want to turn to my colleague Fredricka Whitfield, joining me from Atlanta to address an issue over the weekend. Fred?
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Brooke. Well, Saturday during a segment on the Dallas police department attack I used the words courageous and brave when discussing the gunman. I misspoke, terribly. I misused those words terribly and I sincerely apologize for making this statement and I understand now how offensive it was and I want to reiterate that in no way do I believe the gunman was courageous or brave. I sincerely apologize. Brooke?
BALDWIN: Fred, thank you.
