Fox Sports apologizes for "inappropriate" video

BOULDER, Colo. - Fox Sports is apologizing for what it calls an "inappropriate" segment filmed on the University of Southern California campus that critics say mocks Asian students.

Fox Sports Network sent the apology after the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, Colo., reported about the video. It shows a comedian approaching Asian students at USC and asking them to welcome the universities of Colorado and Utah to the Pac-12 Conference. The comedian tells the students to give the new Pac-12 members an "all-American welcome" and then mocks students' accents.

In the statement, network spokesman Lou D'Ermilio addresses the apology to USC President Max Nikias.

"We sincerely apologize to President Nikias and the entire USC community for the production and posting of the video," D'Ermilio wrote. "The context was clearly inappropriate and the video was removed as soon as we became aware of it. We will review our editorial process to determine where the breakdown occurred, and we will take steps to ensure something like this never happens again."

Watch the video here:

Deadspin originally reported on the video last week.

University of Colorado ethnic studies professor Darryl Maeda, who saw the segment, told the newspaper that the piece relies on stereotypes of Asians as "perpetual foreigners." The interviewer appeared to seek students for whom English is not their first language, he said.

"This is demeaning to millions of Asian Americans who have put down deep roots in the United States, claim English as their language and root vigorously for their favorite sports teams," Maeda said.

CU's football team hosts the USC Trojans on Nov. 4. CU and Utah entered the Pac-12 in July.