Jenna Bush Hager has an issued an apology for her embarrassing snafu at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards.
Prior to Jimmy Fallon taking the stage and opening the ceremony in very unfunny fashion, the former First Daughter (working as a Today Show correspondent) stopped on the red carpet to chat with Pharrell Williams.
Referring to the film for which he recorded a song, Hager began her question for the artist by saying the following:
“So, you’re nominated for Hidden Fences…”
Pharrell is NOT nominated for “Hidden Fences.”
He’s nominated for a movie titled “Hidden Figures.”
(In Hager’s defense, there was another Golden Globes-nominated movie titled “Fences,” and Michael Keaton made this same mistake while on stage at the event.)
Pharrell didn’t correct Hager when she made her gaffe, though you can tell he REALLY wants to in the clip above.
Many Twitter users, however, were not about to let this snafu go – largely due to the identity of Hager’s father and his history in dealing with African-Americans.
Here is a sampling of their reactions:
Fighting back tears, Hager responded to this controversy on Monday’s Today show.
“If I offended people, I am deeply sorry,” she told viewers, adding:
“It was a mistake… What I didn’t want to do is make anyone feel lesser than who they are. It was a mistake and I hope we can all move on.”
Al Roker – who was seated alongside Hager as she delivered her apology – defended his co-worker before going off on the mentality of social media and the media itself.
“Honest mistakes happen in live television,” the famous weatherman said.
“And this culture of Twitter and people waiting to pounce on people — it’s gotta stop. It’s just ridiculous… And for the New York Times to repeat these tweets, it’s a cheap shot.”
Watch Hager’s mea culpa below:
WATCH: “If I offended people, I am deeply sorry. It was a mistake… I am not perfect.” @JennaBushHager on Golden Globes red carpet mistake pic.twitter.com/0dOLPHuJCO
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 9, 2017
Fortunately for Hager, her mistake was overshadowed by a few other happenings at the Golden Globes.
There was Meryl Streep tearing into Donald Trump… Ryan Gosling expressing his love and admiration for Eva Mendes… and Kristen Wiig and Steve Carell being totally hilarious.
Relive the most memorably Golden Globes moment here:
And then sound off:
Should Hager have apologized?
Do you buy her apology?
Was this much ado about nothing?
Or should we be making an even bigger deal out of her slip-up?