Samantha Armytage sets her account to ‘private’ as she trends on Twitter as users revisit ‘racist’ Sunrise segment in wake of #BLM protests
- Sunrise host Samantha Armytage is trending on Twitter
- In the wake of #BlackLivesMatter protests, Twitter users are revisiting a 2015 interview that saw Armytage congratulate a mixed-race twin on her ‘fair skin’
- Armytage apologised at the time, and claimed she was being sarcastic: ‘I would be mortified if anyone thought I would say or think anything racist.’
Sunrise’s Samantha Armytage is trending on Twitter as a video has resurfaced of the Australian TV host congratulating a white woman on her skin-tone.
The Sunrise interview, which originally aired in 2015, features UK mixed-race twins Lucy and Mary Alymer.
In the wake of #BlackLivesMatter protests, the segment has become widely circulated on Twitter and re-published by overseas news websites.
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Trending for the wrong reasons: Sunrise’s Samantha Armytage (left) is trending on Twitter after a video resurfaced of her congratulating a white woman on her skin-tone resurfaced online
During the segment, Samantha introduced the mixed-race twins from the UK separately.
‘Maria has taken after her half Jamaican mum 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,’ the Seven presenter said at the time.
Co-host David ‘Kochie’ Koch – who was also trending on Twitter on Sunday – seemed taken aback by the comment, and gave a confused glance in Armytage’s direction.
‘Good on her’: During her interview, Samantha introduced the twins (pictured) from the UK separately, and appeared to congratulate one twin on her fair completion
Samantha apologised for the comment days later in 2015, saying in a statement to Daily Mail Australia: ‘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.’
A Seven spokesperson also told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Regular members of the Sunrise audience or anyone who has seen the clip in full will know that Sam was taking a dig at herself.’
‘She frequently jokes about the fair skin that runs in her family and difficult it can be to manage in extreme environments,’ they added.
Backlash: In the past few days the clip has been shared thousands of times on Twitter, with many mistakingly believing the clip to be recent
In the past few days the clip has been shared thousands of times on Twitter, with many mistakingly believing the clip to be recent.
Some users have claimed the video is an example of ‘white privilege’ and ‘casual racism’.
Meanwhile, Samantha has set her Instagram page to private and hasn’t posted anything for three days.
Trending: Both Samantha and Kochie were trending in Australia on Twitter on Sunday
Going to ground: Meanwhile, Samantha has set her Instagram page to private and hasn’t posted anything for three days
It comes as protests and riots erupt across the U.S. after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died in Minneapolis on May 25 after a white cop pressed his knee against his neck for eight minutes.
The officer involved, Derek Michael Chauvin, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter days after footage of the incident went viral.
Protesters took to the streets demanding reform after what many consider another senseless death and example of police brutality.
Mr Floyd had been accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill at a deli.
Tragic death: It comes as protests and riots erupt across the U.S. after George Floyd (pictured), an unarmed black man, died in Minneapolis last Monday after a white cop pressed his knee against his neck for eight minutes