Yet another television personality was forced to apologize this week for marking Cinco de Mayo with a sombrero and stereotypes.
The latest was ABC’s Lara Spencer, who twirled the hat and shouted “ole” during Monday’s edition of “Good Morning America.”
With a drink in hand, Spencer said it was “the biggest day of the year for margarita sales.” She also adopted an accent and referred to the holiday as “Cinco de Drinko.”
Freelance reporter Rebecca Aguilar, who serves as the vice president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, posted clips of Spencer on Instagram.
On Tuesday, Spencer apologized in a tweet that was directed at her ABC colleague, John Quinones. Quinones said he knew Spencer “meant no harm.”
Got carried w excitement over Cinco de Mayo celebration on GMA-sorry and thankful to @johnqabc @prrosado @julito77-u make great points.
— Lara Spencer (@LaraSpencer) May 6, 2014
Thanks, Lara. I know you meant no harm. RT @LaraSpencer: Got carried w excitement over Cinco de Mayo celebration on GMA-sorry and thankful
— John Quinones (@JohnQABC) May 6, 2014
Spencer isn’t the only host to take heat for her boozy treatment of Cinco de Mayo, a holiday that commemorates a 19th century victory by the Mexican army over the French. MSNBC apologized after producer Louis Borgdorf shook a maraca and pretended to swig tequila on “Way Too Early.” The show’s host, Thomas Roberts, offered his own on-air apology on Wednesday.
But “Morning Joe’ has seemingly been let off the hook, even though a sombrero-clad Borgdorf chummed it up with Mika Brzezinski at the end of Monday’s show.
