'Looks like the ice cream of America': ABC anchor sparks outrage with comment about 'overwhelmingly white' audience at Trump's inauguration
- ABC's Byron Pitts sparked outrage on Twitter, where he was accused of being racist after calling Trump's inauguration audience 'the ice cream of America'
- Byron Pitts, who is the co-anchor of Nightline, made the comment on Friday
- He said: 'Now think back to when President Obama took office for the first time, how diverse the crowd was. You saw the rainbow of America'
- Pitts added: 'Today this looks like the ice cream of America. Right? It is an overwhelmingly white audience'
An ABC anchor has sparked outrage after calling Trump's inauguration audience 'the ice cream of America'.
Byron Pitts, who is the co-anchor of Nightline, made the comment on Friday to ABC's George Stephanopoulos.
He said: 'You said earlier how Donald Trump is an optics guy. He said, talking about Michael Pence, "He looked the part."
'Think about this crowd and think about the divided America. We talked about the noise of the racial divide, this is the whisper of the racial divide in America.
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An ABC anchor sparked outrage on Twitter, where he was accused of being racist after calling Trump's inauguration audience 'the ice cream of America'
Byron Pitts, who is the co-anchor of Nightline, made the comment on Friday to ABC's George Stephanopoulos
Trump supporters are pictured along the inaugural parade route on Friday in Washington
A crowd is pictured watching the presidential motorcade going through the parade route
Crowd members hold out phones and wave while the Trumps walk during the parade
'Now think back to when President Obama took office for the first time, how diverse the crowd was. You saw the rainbow of America.
'Today this looks like the ice cream of America. Right? It is an overwhelmingly white audience.'
He continued: 'Donald Trump clearly is the president of blue-collar America. He talked about the forgotten people.
'Well, there are a lot of folk who will see today and feel forgotten, because they don't see themselves in the audience.'
Twitter users criticized Pitts for his remark, which came during ABC's coverage of the inaugural parade.
Pitts said Friday: 'Donald Trump clearly is the president of blue-collar America. He talked about the forgotten people. Well, there are a lot of folk who will see today and feel forgotten, because they don't see themselves in the audience'
Twitter users criticized Pitts for his remark during ABC's coverage of the inaugural parade
One tweet from John H directed at Pitts said he should 'stop being such a racist'
One user tweeted: '@byronpitts - You sir are a racist. When BO was elected no one said "the his support came from blacks even though 99% supported him.'
Another person said: '@byronpitts stop being such a racist, Trump hater. Be an AMERICAN for 1 day at least for crying out loud. Trump loves America.'
'@byronpitts The "ice cream of America"? You racist f***... Way to contribute to the divide,' a Twitter user said.
Crowd members are pictured in January 2013 during Obama's inaugural parade
People are seen bundled up and holding up cell phones for Obama's 2013 inaugural parade
One Twitter user said that 'Any conservative would be crucified for that remark'
This person asked 'Why no outcry' regarding Pitts' comment
Another Twitter user said that they might boycott ABC
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'Wow @ABC such racist comments, "ice cream of America" intolerable!' a different person tweeted.
A different person tweeted: '@byronpitts I'm offended by Y'r comments on the ice cream on the parade route. People who talk this A'r creating racism in America.Grow up.'
Pitts responded on the social media platform, writing: 'Racism in America precedes us both. Some Americans believe we should be color blind. Others believe we should be color brave.'
Pitts responded to one person who said they were offended by his comment with this tweet
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