Lara Spencer sparks outrage for laughing at Prince George loving ballet, issues apology

Charles Trepany, USA TODAY
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Lara Spencer has made a lot of people royally angry.

The "Good Morning America" host issued an apology after setting off a social media firestorm for laughing while discussing Prince George's love of ballet on the air.

The controversy began when Spencer, 50, brought up the young royal's back-to-school plans on the morning talk show in a clip published Thursday.

"Details of George's curriculum have been released, making us all really happy we don't have to do homework anymore," she said. "In addition to the usual first or second-grade things like math, science and history, the future king of England will be putting down the Play-Doh to take on religious studies, computer programming, poetry and ballet, among other things."

The clip then cuts to images of the 6-year-old, but laughter can be heard from the "GMA" set.

"Prince William says George absolutely loves ballet. I have news for you Prince William, we'll see how long that lasts," Spencer added, before letting out a chuckle.

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Viewers and celebrities took to Twitter to accuse Spencer of shaming the child for his passion.

"Okay, Lara Spencer, seriously? Laughing at boys who take ballet?" Rosie O'Donnell said in a video posted to Twitter. "What's up with that? C'mon, Lara Spencer. Please… It's like bullying on national TV. Boys who take ballet are cool."

"Lara Spencer on @GMA mocked a 6-year old Prince George of the UK for taking ballet class," George Takei wrote. "It shows that 'toxic masculinity' can be spread viciously by insensitive women, too. As a fellow 'George' and a lover of dance, I am very troubled and disappointed by her actions."

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"Lara Spencer mocked a 6-year-old for taking ballet on air and thought nobody would notice," one user wrote. "She was wrong. Spencer, George Stephanopoulos, and audience members who laughed should all attend a performance. No excuse when you're already in the dance capital of the world."

"Every child should pursue whatever they want without fear of ridicule!" wrote another. "Dance on George!"

Spencer apologized on her Instagram story Friday.

"My deepest apologies for an insensitive comment I made during pop news on Thursday," she wrote. "From ballet, which I took as a kid, to anything in life you wish to explore, I fully believe we should all pursue our passion. Go climb your mountain--and love every minute of it."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lara Spencer sparks outrage for laughing at Prince George's ballet

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