Channel Seven presenter Samantha Armytage says she is "mortified" at suggestions an off-the-cuff remark could have appeared to be racially insensitive.
"I would be mortified if anyone thought I would say or think anything racist," said the Sunrise host. "It's not in my nature. To anyone who I might have offended, I'm sorry."
The controversial comment came about during an interview last month with two British sisters.
Armytage and co-host David Koch were interviewing British twins Maria and Lucy Aylmer who have radically different skin tones. This is the result, according to Koch, of a "rare genetic quirk".
"The Aylmer twins come from a mixed race family in the UK," said Armytage, introducing the live cross. "Maria has taken after her half-Jamaican mum with dark skin, brown eyes and curly, dark hair but Lucy got her dad's fair skin – good on her! – along with straight red hair and blue eyes."
It was the "Good on her!" comment – which prompted a sidelong glance from Koch – that has been called into question.
An online petition calling for an apology has since attracted more than 3000 signatures.
Sunrise producer Michael Pell also offered his own apology and clarification.
"We are making this statement to avoid further misunderstanding about Sam's comment on Sunrise," he said. "Sam has always admitted that her own fair complexion was a disadvantage in the Australian environment. We apologise if anyone misunderstood or if they were offended."
