In Tears Elisabeth Hazzelbeck Apologizes to Erwin Andrews

By Mike Ryan | Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 2:55 PM

Hasselbeck apologizes.

Paul Morigi/WireImage.com

Elisabeth Hasselbeck can be a polarizing personality, to put it mildly. Attacking public political figures is one thing. Attacking one of America's favorite sports reporters, Erin Andrews -- who was recently the victim in a very public criminal stalking case -- crossed the line with a lot of viewers. Hasselbeck now regrets this decision.

Tuesday, on Hasselbeck's show "The View," she questioned Andrews' choice of attire for her "Dancing With the Stars" appearance.

She even suggested that an outfit like the one Andrews was wearing could possibly have put Andrews in a situation like the one with her convicted stalker Michael Barrett, who is currently serving two and a half years in prison.

On Wednesday's show, a noticeably distraught Hasselbeck publicly apologized to Andrews for her insensitive remarks. Hasselbeck seemed completely sincere in her remorse -- as opposed to being coerced by ABC, the network that employs both of them. She said she had already privately apologized to Andrews as well.

Hasselbeck, as part of her apology, referenced a conversation she had with her daughter the night before. "Mommy hurt someone's feelings," Hasselbeck told her daughter.

Later, she told the crowd, "I ended up hurting [Andrews]," as she fought to hold back tears. Hasselbeck's daughter had some words for her mother, which Hasselbeck relayed to much laughter in the audience: "Mommy, why don't you just call Erin and tell her you're sorry?" Hasselbeck took her daughter's advice.

Erin Andrews professed to "Access Hollywood" that she cried upon hearing Hasselbeck's original comments. She went on to say that Hasselbeck's comments were "a slap in the face to victims of stalking and sexual predators."


Talk About It: Should Erin accept Elisabeth's apology?