British journalist, Rachel Johnson, has apologised for the “moronic reference to Gaelic” she made after the referendum results were announced over the weekend.Â
Johnson, who is Boris Johnson’s sister, took to Twitter to thank Sky News journalists for their coverage of the Eighth Amendment referendum.Â
In a since deleted tweet, the journalist wrote:
Huge praise to Beth Rigby and Kay Burley of Sky News who produced world-class award-winning reporting every step of the way of this powerful and moving and divisive story – and also helped comprehension (in mainland UK) by speaking in clear English not Gaelic throughout.
As expected, the reaction was swift as many people were annoyed at her apparent lack of understanding of the Irish language as well as Ireland’s sovereignty.
Ireland is not a part of the U.K. at all so the “mainland U.K.” comment is very misinformed and a political faux-pas in the extreme. Just a heads up. Also we don’t speak Gaelic, it’s Gaeilge, and all reporting would be in English regardless.
— Méabh de Brún (@MeabhdeBrun) May 26, 2018
Just proof,if any was needed, that all the stupidity and ignorance in the Johnson family, did not land solely on Boris’s fluffy head.
— J McGlone (@JMcGlone7) May 27, 2018
After some serious backlash the journalist apologised for her reference to the Irish language, saying she “fecked up.”
I made a moronic reference to “Gaelic” in my tweet about TV coverage of the Irish abortion referendum yesterday and Twitter has rightly pointed out in how many ways I fecked up in using that word. Sorry.
— Rachel Johnson (@RachelSJohnson) May 27, 2018
And while some people accepted her apology, others still felt the need to point out that the “mainland” reference was still a mistake.
Just to highlight another feck up, Ireland is not part of the UK, which the tone of your tweet also implied
— JP McGrath (@jpmg31) May 28, 2018
Good of you to acknowledge the ignorance in your tweet. Apology accepted. Maith thú.
— Cormac Mac Liam (@MacLiam1) May 28, 2018
Do you think her apology went far enough? Let us know in the comments.
READ NEXT:Â WATCH: An Audacious League Of Ireland Goal Is Being Shared Around The World