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A TV news anchor covering Kobe Bryant’s death has come under fire for saying what sounded like a racial slur as she mispronounced the name of the basketball star’s team.
MSNBC presenter Alison Morris was covering the helicopter crash in the hills of Calabasas, California, which Bryant and his 13 year-old daughter Gianna died in alongside seven others on Sunday.
While paying tribute to the sports star, Ms Morris appeared to say he was “perfectly cast on the Los Angeles n*****s… er Lakers.”
Viewer took to social media after hearing the anchor’s slip of the tongue, claiming she had made a racial slur.
However Ms Morris denied this and posted a message on Twitter apologising for the mispronunciation.
“Earlier today, while reporting on the tragic news of Kobe Bryant’s passing, I unfortunately stuttered on air, combining the names of the Knicks and the Lakers to say “Nakers”, she wrote.
“Please know I did not & would NEVER use a racist term.
“I apologise for the confusion this caused.”
Some Twitter users were not swayed by her statement and said she should come clean about her comments.
One user said: “Nah you said the whole thing, own up to it”.
Another added: “Ma’am you did not say Nakers”
However other social media users came out in support of the TV presenter and agreed that it was an honest mistake.
“I’m not about to argue with yall about this,” one said.
“She said “Nakers” not N—–s. I’m all for putting people in their place (especially racists!), but right is right.”
Former anchor Derek McGinty came out in her defence and said: “I believe her…it did sound like ‘n*****s’ but cmon…no announcer in her right mind would say such a thing on purpose!
“I think we need to go back to the old idea of giving folks the benefit of the doubt. And frankly we all need it from time to time.”
The former LA Lakers star was travelling in his private helicopter when it crashed in in a remote field.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver tweeted: “The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.”
Considered one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, Bryant was a global star who spent all 20 years of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, who drafted him straight out of high school in 1996,.
He was the franchise’s all-time leading point scorers.
Tributes to Kobe Bryant – In pictures
1/30
People gather around a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant after learning of his death, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles
AFP via Getty Images
2/30
Candles spell “Kobe” and “Gigi” at a memorial near Staples Center after the death of Los Angeles Laker legend Kobe Bryant
AP
3/30
Distraught Los Angeles Lakers fan Naima Smith (wearing glasses) crying at a vigil for the late NBA star Kobe Bryant on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California
Getty Images
4/30
Mourners gather in Microsoft Square near the Staples Center to pay respects to Kobe Bryant after a helicopter crash killed the retired basketball star, in Los Angeles, California
Reuters
5/30
Luis Villanueva lights a candle in front of a Kobe Bryant mural in downtown Los Angeles
AFP via Getty Images
6/30
Joe Herandez, left, and Carlos Garcia place candles at a small memorial made near the scene of a helicopter crash that killed former NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant in Calabasas
AP
7/30
Victor Nava holds up his sign at LA Live to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant who died earlier in a helicopter crash
Getty Images
8/30
People mourn at a makeshift memorial at Mamba Sports Academy for former NBA great Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash while commuting to the academy on January 26, 2020 in Newbury Park, California
Getty Images
9/30
Chance Starling, left, comforts his wife Natasha Lloyd near the scene of a helicopter crash that killed former NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant in Calabasas
AP
10/30
People gather at a memorial near Staples Center after the death of Laker legend Kobe Bryant
AP
11/30
Anthony Hauk stands near the scene of a helicopter crash that killed former NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant in Calabasa
AP
12/30
Bryan Stange, right, stands with his family holding a sign near the scene of a helicopter crash that killed former NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant in Calabasas
AP
13/30
People gather around a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant after learning of his death, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles
AFP via Getty Images
14/30
The exterior of Madison Square Garden, right, is colored orange and purple, as the Empire State Building in the wak of the death of retired NBA star Kobe Bryant before the start of a basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks
AP
15/30
Fans hold up signs in memory of Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash in California, during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Indiana Pacers in Portland
AP
16/30
Najee Ali speaks at a vigil for the late NBA star Kobe Bryant
Getty Images
17/30
Candles and pictures laid by fans at a vigil for the late NBA star Kobe Bryant on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California
Getty Images
18/30
Mourners gather in Microsoft Square near the Staples Center to pay respects to Kobe Bryant after a helicopter crash killed the retired basketball star, in Los Angeles, California
Reuters
19/30
University of Oregon student Isaiah Champagne and The Pit Crew pay tribute to Kobe Bryant during the UCLA Oregon NCAA basketball game
AP
20/30
People mourn at a makeshift memorial at Mamba Sports Academy for former NBA great Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash while commuting to the academy on January 26, 2020 in Newbury Park, California
Getty Images
21/30
Lakers fan Johnny Velasco speaks at a vigil for the late NBA star Kobe Bryant on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California
Getty Images
22/30
Los Angeles Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell (5) wears shoes during warmups, paying tribute to Kobe Bryant before an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic in Orlando
AP
23/30
A detail of sneakers worn by New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart with a tribute inscription to former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his daughter daughter Gianna Maria Onore Bryant whom died in a helicopter crash Sunday morning prior to tip off against the Boston Celtics at the Smoothie King Center
Reuters
24/30
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young’s (11) shoes honors Kobe Bryant prior to an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards
AP
25/30
Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers wears a pair of Adidas Crazy Eights with a tribute to Kobe Bryant written on the midsole in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets
AP
26/30
New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart bears a memorial message on his shoes for former NBA great Kobe Bryant
AP
27/30
Phoenix Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. wears shoes with a tribute message to the late Kobe Bryant in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies
AP
28/30
The shoes of Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks are seen during a free throw at Madison Square Garden on January 26, 2020 in New York
Getty Images
29/30
The shoes of Marcus Morris Sr. #13 of the New York Knicks are seen during a free throw at Madison Square Garden on January 26, 2020 in New Yor
Getty Images
30/30
A moment of silence is held for former Los Angeles Laker great Kobe Bryant before the game between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden on January 26, 2020 in New York
Getty Images
1/30
People gather around a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant after learning of his death, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles
AFP via Getty Images
2/30
Candles spell “Kobe” and “Gigi” at a memorial near Staples Center after the death of Los Angeles Laker legend Kobe Bryant
AP
3/30
Distraught Los Angeles Lakers fan Naima Smith (wearing glasses) crying at a vigil for the late NBA star Kobe Bryant on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California
Getty Images
4/30
Mourners gather in Microsoft Square near the Staples Center to pay respects to Kobe Bryant after a helicopter crash killed the retired basketball star, in Los Angeles, California
Reuters
5/30
Luis Villanueva lights a candle in front of a Kobe Bryant mural in downtown Los Angeles
AFP via Getty Images
6/30
Joe Herandez, left, and Carlos Garcia place candles at a small memorial made near the scene of a helicopter crash that killed former NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant in Calabasas
AP
7/30
Victor Nava holds up his sign at LA Live to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant who died earlier in a helicopter crash
Getty Images
8/30
People mourn at a makeshift memorial at Mamba Sports Academy for former NBA great Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash while commuting to the academy on January 26, 2020 in Newbury Park, California
Getty Images
9/30
Chance Starling, left, comforts his wife Natasha Lloyd near the scene of a helicopter crash that killed former NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant in Calabasas
AP
10/30
People gather at a memorial near Staples Center after the death of Laker legend Kobe Bryant
AP
11/30
Anthony Hauk stands near the scene of a helicopter crash that killed former NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant in Calabasa
AP
12/30
Bryan Stange, right, stands with his family holding a sign near the scene of a helicopter crash that killed former NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant in Calabasas
AP
13/30
People gather around a makeshift memorial for former NBA and Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant after learning of his death, at LA Live plaza in front of Staples Center in Los Angeles
AFP via Getty Images
14/30
The exterior of Madison Square Garden, right, is colored orange and purple, as the Empire State Building in the wak of the death of retired NBA star Kobe Bryant before the start of a basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks
AP
15/30
Fans hold up signs in memory of Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash in California, during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Indiana Pacers in Portland
AP
16/30
Najee Ali speaks at a vigil for the late NBA star Kobe Bryant
Getty Images
17/30
Candles and pictures laid by fans at a vigil for the late NBA star Kobe Bryant on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California
Getty Images
18/30
Mourners gather in Microsoft Square near the Staples Center to pay respects to Kobe Bryant after a helicopter crash killed the retired basketball star, in Los Angeles, California
Reuters
19/30
University of Oregon student Isaiah Champagne and The Pit Crew pay tribute to Kobe Bryant during the UCLA Oregon NCAA basketball game
AP
20/30
People mourn at a makeshift memorial at Mamba Sports Academy for former NBA great Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash while commuting to the academy on January 26, 2020 in Newbury Park, California
Getty Images
21/30
Lakers fan Johnny Velasco speaks at a vigil for the late NBA star Kobe Bryant on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California
Getty Images
22/30
Los Angeles Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell (5) wears shoes during warmups, paying tribute to Kobe Bryant before an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic in Orlando
AP
23/30
A detail of sneakers worn by New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart with a tribute inscription to former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his daughter daughter Gianna Maria Onore Bryant whom died in a helicopter crash Sunday morning prior to tip off against the Boston Celtics at the Smoothie King Center
Reuters
24/30
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young’s (11) shoes honors Kobe Bryant prior to an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards
AP
25/30
Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers wears a pair of Adidas Crazy Eights with a tribute to Kobe Bryant written on the midsole in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets
AP
26/30
New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart bears a memorial message on his shoes for former NBA great Kobe Bryant
AP
27/30
Phoenix Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr. wears shoes with a tribute message to the late Kobe Bryant in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies
AP
28/30
The shoes of Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks are seen during a free throw at Madison Square Garden on January 26, 2020 in New York
Getty Images
29/30
The shoes of Marcus Morris Sr. #13 of the New York Knicks are seen during a free throw at Madison Square Garden on January 26, 2020 in New Yor
Getty Images
30/30
A moment of silence is held for former Los Angeles Laker great Kobe Bryant before the game between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden on January 26, 2020 in New York
Getty Images
During his time in Los Angeles, Bryant won five NBA championships, including three in a row between 2000-2002. He was named an NBA all-star 18 times during his career, and was twice NBA Finals MVP.
He retired in 2016, finishing his career with 33,643 regular season points, ranking him fourth on the NBA’s all-time list, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and LeBron James, the latter having only surpassed his mark on Saturday night.