(Credit: ITV)

ITV host Eamonn Holmes called Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and wife of Prince Harry, “uppity” this summer in reference to her appearance at Wimbledon.

Holmes said: ‘If you have an uppity attitude, you’re only through the door two minutes and suddenly you’re sitting at Wimbledon and your royal protection are saying, ‘No photographs, no photographs!'”

Now, several months later, ITV has apologized for the insult to a viewer who complained it was racist. Meghan Markle is of mixed ethnic heritage.

However, ITV denied the Daily Mail‘s report that claimed the network had now banned the word “uppity.” It also denied it had reprimanded Holmes.

ITV told the Mail it had “conversations” with Holmes about “the possible interpretation of the word” and used it as a teaching moment. “It is incorrect to state that there is an ITV ban on the word uppity. There is no such ban on the word ‘uppity’ per se, rather care will be taken regarding the context of its use,” ITV told the Mail.

iMediaEthics has written to ITV.