Former “Love & Hip Hop” star Erica Mena is sorry for calling her castmate a “monkey.”
The reality star issued an apology Tuesday after being fired from the MTV reality franchise for using a racial slur.
“I deeply regret my insensitive comment and want to humbly apologize to anybody I hurt or offended by my thoughtlessness,” she said in a statement to Pvnew.
Mena, 35, admitted that her “choice of words was wrong,” adding that she takes “full responsibility” for what she said.
“I am committed to listening to the voices of those affected and will work toward making amends,” she continued. “As a woman of color and the mother of two black children, I want to make it clear that my use of that word was not in any way racially driven.”
The actress shares two kids with her ex-husband, Safaree Samuels, in addition to a son from a previous relationship.
“That said, I do understand the gravity of what I said and want to use my platform to promote inclusivity and equality,” she concluded her statement.
Mena faced backlash from fans after she hurled the slur at her co-star Spice during a heated argument.
“You monkey, you f–king blue monkey!” she screamed on “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” while flipping a table.
The insult came after Spice, 41, claimed Mena’s teenage son, King, “hates” his mom.
Shortly after, the series announced it had cut ties with Mena.
“The ‘Love & Hip Hop’ franchise has never shied away from hard conversations in our community,” read a statement on the show’s Instagram account on Sept. 2. “Working hand-in-hand with our partners, viewers will see the impact of Erica Mena’s remarks play out in the final three episodes of the season. Effective immediately, she will not appear in the next season.”
Mena became an official cast member on “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” in 2018 after starring on “Love & Hip Hop New York” from 2011 to 2015.
