A Fox News host apologized on Monday to Canadians amid outrage over comments made on a late-night talk show suggesting Canadian soldiers were effeminate and expressing ignorance about their role in Afghanistan.
In the segment that aired last week on the late-night program Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld, panelists suggested Canadian soldiers needed time off for “manicures and pedicures.”
Canadian Lieutenant General Andrew Leslie had said the military would need a one-year break from operations after Canada’s mission in Afghanistan ends in 2011.
Gutfeld said on Monday that his comments “may have been misunderstood” and were in no way meant to disrespect “the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize.”
Fox News issued Gutfeld’s statement just after the Canadian government demanded an apology for what it called the “despicable” and “disgusting” comments.
In the segment on his show, Gutfeld said: “The Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous white capri pants.”
Gutfeld also added: “Isn’t this the perfect time to invade this ridiculous country? They have no army.”
Another panelist, Doug Benson, said he didn’t even know Canadian troops were in Afghanistan.
Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay requested the apology on Monday before attending a repatriation ceremony with the families of four soldiers who were killed last Friday. So far, 116 Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan.
“It is crass. It is insensitive and it is in fact disgusting given the timing, where Canada is just receiving back four fallen heroes,” MacKay told CTV News.
Canada has about 2,500 soldiers in Afghanistan and has borne the brunt of much of the violence in the volatile south.
The owner of the Comedy Strip in Edmonton, Alberta, asked Benson not to appear next week for two scheduled shows.
“We were inundated with e-mails and phone calls that were bordering on threatening,” club owner Rick Bronson said.
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