A French news channel has been criticised and forced to apologise after one of its journalists was heard whispering "they are burying the Pokemons" during its coverage of China's day of mourning for coronavirus victims.
BFMTV and its journalist Emmanuel Lechypre were lambasted as racist and "shockingly insensitive" on social media after the business reporter made the comment on Saturday over live footage of the three-minute silence observed across China.
Some 3,300 have died in the coronavirus pandemic in China.
Lechypre later apologised, saying he did not know his microphone was turned on.
"I allowed myself to say something totally inappropriate, thinking that the microphones were off. I am very sorry."
The channel's boss Marc-Olivier Fogiel also apologised to viewers, although it remains unclear whether Lechypre will be sanctioned.
