Actress and conservative firebrand Stacey Dash has apologized for offensive statements made during her time as a Fox News host and asked for forgiveness from those she offended.
Dash became one of former President Donald Trump's most notable Black supporters and spent the duration of her Fox News career denigrating Black people, the Latinx community and fellow women.
Four years after being fired from Fox News, Dash — in an interview with DailyMailTV — said she has come to realize that much of what she said in the past was in poor taste.
"I've lived my life being angry, which is what I was on Fox News. I was the angry, conservative, Black woman. And at that time in my life, it was who I was," Dash shared. "I realized in 2016 that anger is unsustainable and it will destroy you. I made a lot of mistakes because of that anger. There are things that I am sorry for. Things that I did say, that I should not have said them the way I said them. They were very arrogant and prideful and angry."
"That's who Stacey was, but that's not who Stacey is now. Stacey's someone who has compassion, empathy. God has forgiven me, how dare I not forgive someone else. I don't want to be judged, so how dare I judge anyone else. So if anyone has ever felt that way about me, like I've judged, that I apologize for because that's not who I am," the Clueless actress added.
As Blavity previously reported, Dash spent years bashing former President Barack Obama and defending Trump's stances on white supremacy and racism. Among her other offenses were calling for the end of Black History Month and making derogatory remarks about the trans community.
"I think he was absolutely right…Both sides had a right to assemble, but they were both extremes," Dash said after Trump's infamous comments about the rally that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.
But Dash told the British news outlet this week that she now realizes she was wrong to say those things and understands that Fox News was using her as their token Black woman.
"I'm not a victim of anyone. Working for Fox at the time, that was my job. I did my job from the place I was at. Stacey now would never work at Fox, would never work for a news network, or be a news contributor. Being a supporter of Trump has put me in some kind of box that I don't belong in. But he's not the president," she said.
"I think the Capitol Riots were appalling. When that happened I was like 'OK, I'm done. I'm truly done.' Because senseless violence of any kind I denounce. What happened on January 6 was just appalling and stupid," she added.
Despite her apologies, Dash said she would still classify herself as a Black conservative and claimed she was being "blacklisted" by Hollywood because of her political views. She later told Daily Mail that she "is not a feminist" and said women "need to support men, lift them up, love them and respect them."
As one could predict, the apology was not well-received online.
Stacey Dash when Trump was president vs Stacey Dash now pic.twitter.com/4s77F4r7vg
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) March 11, 2021
Stacey Dash: I want back in.
Us: pic.twitter.com/sy1zEmTPoc
— Double L must Rock The Bells (@LoveThePuck) March 11, 2021
Stacey Dash: I apologize
Black Twitter: pic.twitter.com/iFw6Rw4hoY
— DavaStarr (@DavaStarr) March 11, 2021
IPhone : “ Stacey Dash is calling “
The Black Community : pic.twitter.com/KORPyKaCTc
— A Real $moove Production (@Jayl0n1k) March 11, 2021
I’m just here to remind y’all that Stacey Dash said transgender people should “pee in the bushes” if they “can’t make up their mind”and that wasn’t an error in judgment on her part.
She’s just cruel. Don’t fall for her new grift.
— Kelly Wickham Hurst (@mochamomma) March 11, 2021
Stacey Dash is now sorry she associated herself with Trump, says she's struggling in Hollywood now.
Us: pic.twitter.com/vPNwrzXN1Z
— Veronica McDonald???? (@Purify_toast17) March 11, 2021
Dear Stacey Dash,
It is with our deepest regret to inform you that we are not accepting any coon applications at this time nor will we be in the foreseeable future. Certainly, you’ll find it in your right mind to understand our lack of interest.
Zero Fucks Given,
Black Twitter— B. (@BrittanyAlesa) March 11, 2021
When black Twitter see Stacey Dash tryna ease her way back in the black community pic.twitter.com/vlSwYk5Eo9
— Mr.Gemini♊ (@RonnieThaGreat) March 11, 2021
One of these days Black women like Stacey Dash will realize that making money from being anti-Black is only a career path with longevity for white people. There is an expiration date that will be unceremoniously enforced.
— Shanita Hubbard (@msshanitarenee) March 11, 2021
Stacey Dash: Hey Guys Am Back…
Black Society: pic.twitter.com/y6n9yjYsGh
— MrTV_Mmekwa (@MmekwaMrtv) March 11, 2021
Stacey Dash: “ i’m no longer a white woman guys I’m part of the black community again”
The Black community:pic.twitter.com/63STiXpMYk
— ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????? (@OhSayLesss) March 11, 2021
I'm just here to watch Black Twitter drag Stacey Dash. pic.twitter.com/VHwAPbEmUJ
— Kornacki’s Khakis (@ThinkPink72) March 11, 2021
Dash dedicated a significant part of the interview to sharing her views about abortion and tried to promote her new movie, which is a film produced by conservatives about Roe v. Wade.