Sam Armytage ‘applauds’ the Black Lives Matter movement in an interview from before she faced backlash over a ‘racist’ Sunrise segment from 2015
Samantha Armytage recently faced backlash from Black Lives Matter activists over comments she made on Sunrise five years ago.
But before the ‘racist’ segment resurfaced earlier this month, the 43-year-old had applauded the anti-police brutality movement in an interview with Perth Now.
‘Like everybody else, I am finding it shocking what is going on across America and terribly sad,’ Samantha told the publication.
Controversial: Sam Armytage (pictured) ‘applauded’ the Black Lives Matter movement in an interview conducted before she faced backlash over a ‘racist’ Sunrise segment from 2015
‘I think there’s discussion, debate and change that needs to happen. I really applaud the leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement,’ she added.
The Channel Seven host went on to say it was a ‘sad time’ but also ‘really exciting that we’re heading for some change’.
Her interview with Perth Now took place before embarrassing footage resurfaced of Sam appearing to congratulate a white woman on her skin colour.
The controversial Sunrise interview from 2015 featured British mixed-race twins Lucy and Mary Alymer. Sam introduced them separately.
Comments: In an interview, the Sunrise host said it’s a ‘sad time’ but it’s also ‘really exciting that we’re heading for some change’
‘Maria has taken after her half-Jamaican mum with dark skin and 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,’ she said at the time.
Her co-host David ‘Kochie’ Koch seemed taken aback by the comment, and gave a confused glance in Sam’s direction.
In the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, the segment has widely circulated on Twitter and re-published by international news websites.
Backlash: Her interview took place before footage resurfaced of Samantha congratulating a white woman on her skin colour
Sam had previously apologised for the ‘good on her’ comment at the time, telling Daily Mail Australia she hadn’t meant to offend anyone.
‘I would be mortified if anyone thought I would say or think anything racist,’ she said in April 2015.
‘It’s not in my nature. To anyone who I might have offended, I’m sorry.’
‘Good on her’: During her interview, Sam introduced the mixed-race twins (pictured) from the UK separately, and appeared to congratulate one twin on her fair completion