Judy Finnigan botched one of her first appearances on Loose Women yesterday, and has now apologised "unreservedly" for any offence she may have caused.
Viewers took aim at the 66-year-old when she appeared to defend footballer Ched Evans, who was convicted of rape and is due to be released from prison imminently.
Judy Finnigan / Credit: ITVSuggesting the rape was "not violent" and making a point of the victim being drunk when the crime took place, Judy offended thousands of people sitting at home.
Mirror TV now have a statement from Judy which reads: "I absolutely wasn't suggesting that rape was anything other than an horrendous crime and, as I said on the programme, I was in no way attempting to minimise the terrible ordeal that any woman suffers as a result.
"The point I was attempting to raise as part of the debate was what should happen to someone after they have committed a crime and served their time?
"I apologise unreservedly for any offence that I may have caused as a result of the wording I used."
On the show, Judy insisted that she wasn't "minimising any kind of rape", but went on to say she believes that he now should be allowed to return to his career as a footballer.
More than 141,000 signatures have been collected however in a petition to keep Evans off the pitch. Sheffield United haven't commented on the situation.
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