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Jay Severin's on-air apology

E-mail|Link|Comments () June 2, 2009 03:28 PM

By Globe Staff

Jay Severin, the controversial right-wing talk show host, returned to the air today and offered a 2 minute, 30 second apology. Severin's remarks are transcribed below.

Listen to an excerpt from Severin's apology.

WTKK-Radio

Best and brightest, I wish to offer and trust you will consider my sincere apology.
I and the men and women for whom and with whom I work have a duty to our community to ensure that every day our station offers in partnership with you, ideas and conversation about the issues of the day which are thought provoking, compelling, challenging, entertaining.

But also always responsible, civil, thoughtful, and respectful to all members of our community. This is our standard.
However recently in making certain remarks, I failed this standard and thus failed my colleagues and you. My remarks were hurtful, unkind, and wrong. For these remarks and for failing to meet the standards you are right to expect of me, I am sincerely sorry.

Most especially to the member of the Mexican community and Mexican-American community, I regret my remarks and apologize for them. I am sorry.

I want you to be an engaged and proud member of this audience, but I appreciate I must earn that privilege everyday. And I can only expect to do so by conducting a civil and intelligent conversation worthy of you, worthy of your family, whether or not you always agree with my opinions.

To every person I have offended by my recent remarks, I'm truly regretful and I extend my apology. To those who were not offended, I still let you down by appealing to something less than the best and brightest in you, and for this I am also sorry.

I am tremendously eager to renew and make better our 10 years together of daily conversation and vigorous debate. You have my personal pledge that I will do my best to make ours the best show on radio.

And, as ever, thank you for my job.