Weeks after dubbing Dancehall queen Spice a ‘blue monkey’, reality TV star Erica Mena has issued an official apology. In a statement to TMZ, Mena said she regrets her actions and insists her statement was not meant to be racist.

“I deeply regret my insensitive comment and want to humbly apologise to anybody I hurt or offended by my thoughtlessness. My choice of words was wrong, and I take full responsibility for what I said,” she told TMZ.

The actress, who is the ex-wife of rapper Safaree (whose parents are of Jamaican descent), said as she works towards making amends, she understands the backlash that followed her statement and will do everything to ensure her platform is used to “promote inclusivity and equality.”

“I am committed to listening to the voices of those affected and will work toward making amends. As a woman of colour and the mother of two black children, I want to make it clear that my use of that word was not in any way racially driven,” her statement continued. “That said, I do understand the gravity of what I said and want to use my platform to promote inclusivity and equality.”

Mena was fired from Love and Hip Hop following her comments geared at Spice.

READ: Erica Mena fired from Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta after calling Spice ‘monkey’

The two who have been at loggerheads on the show, let all their emotions run wild in a recent episode. Spice, in an insult to Mena, claimed Mena’s son disliked her. Mena hit back by labelling Spice a “blue monkey.”

While many were outraged, others expressed that Spice was using the situation to ‘play victim.’

However, in an Instagram Live session last week, the Black Hypocrisy singer denied the claim and questioned whether it’s now acceptable to endure racism when someone is angered.

Spice emphasised that she wasn’t playing the victim but taking full accountability for the situation.

READ: ‘I’m not playing victim’ – Spice addresses racial slur incident