Sky TV presenter apologises for 'unacceptable' Tuvalu quip during coronation
A British-Australian author who made a quip about the sinking nation of Tuvalu during live coronation coverage in Britain has apologised, saying it was clumsy phrasing of a climate change warning. During Sky News UKs broadcast of King Charles coronation events, a panel was discussing whether more nations in the realm might become republics. One panellist said King Charles would serve as monarch for as long as any nation wanted him to. Tuvalu a tiny collection of islands being swallowed by the rising sea was brought up by host Anna Botting: Tuvalu, is that the one that wanted to stay the most? Another panel member, British-Australian author Kathy Lette, responded laughing: Theyve had to go underwater ... with snorkels on. READ MORE: * Coronation: King's oath won't mention New Zealand * 'Oh, I'm marrying a Diana Spencer': A very brief encounter with a king-to-be * PM Chris Hipkins meets King Charles ahead of coronation, gifted sausage rolls People took to social media to call out Lette and Sky TV UK for the disappointing, gross, insensitive and unbelievable comments, including Tuvalus foreign affairs minister, Simon Kofe . How can anyone find humour in the potential loss of entire countries and cultures due to climate change? It's beyond comprehension and completely unacceptable. We must call out this behaviour and hold those responsible accountable for their ignorance, Kofe tweeted. Tuvalu is a small collection of islands and atolls located about 3500km north of New Zealand, with a population of about 11,000 people. Nearly 5000 Tuvaluans call Aotearoa home. Lette was forced to issue an apology, saying she did not intend to cause offence. I am a committed environmentalist and horrified by climate change and the damage and devastation it inflicts on our poor planet, Lette said, in a statement to The Independent. Im so sorry if, during a live Sky broadcast in which I was supporting the Kings passion for conservation, a throwaway comment I made about Tuvalu sinking came across as glib or uncaring in any way. It was meant as a climate change warning, as melting ice is jeapardising so many low-lying countries, so please accept my apology for clumsy phrasing. The dangers of broadcasting live!