ABC's Martin Bashir is apologizing for "a tasteless remark" he made while keynoting an event at the the Unity conference in Chicago last week. Bashir was invited to speak at the banquet of the Asian American Journalists Association.

According to the StarTribune's Neal Justin, shortly after he began, Bashir remarked about how exciting it was for him to be in a room full of great looking "Asian babes" and then added that he was glad he was standing behind a podium so no one could see how excited he really was.

Jeffrey Schneider, senior VP of ABC News says, "This kind of remark has no place in any setting and Martin knows that and is truly sorry for his serious error in judgment."

Also in attendance ABC's Juju Chang who described it as a "ridiculous joke."

"I thought 'oh, man, what an inappropriate thing to say.' But I've known Martin for a long time. He's a good man who said a dumb thing. He has since apologized to me for his boorishness and I know he deeply regrets it," Chang said in a statement.

Maybe it was that bump on the head?

Anyway, read Bashir's letter of apology (complete with British spelling of offense) after the jump...

31 July 2008

Dear Madam,

I wanted to write and apologize for an inappropriate comment that I made at the AAJA dinner last Friday and for the offence that it caused to those present.

Upon reflection, it was a tasteless remark that I now bitterly regret.
I am grateful to you for the opportunity to address those present and hope that the continuing work of the organization will not by harmed or undermined by my moment of stupidity.

Yours truly,
M Bashir