An Alabama teacher who painted himself black as part of a Kanye West costume apologized on Monday, saying he made an "error in judgment."
Heath Morrow, a fifth-grade teacher at Chestnut Grove Elementary School, went to a private Halloween party over the weekend with his wife. Morrow and his wife dressed as Kanye West and wife Kim Kardashian, according to WHNT.
A photo of the couple in costume was posted to Morrow's wife's Facebook page and was later shared on Reddit, where it went viral.
A representative from Decatur City Schools called a news conference this morning in reference to a controversial picture on social media.
Superintendent Ed Nichols read a letter of apology Morrow:
To whom this may concern:
I would like to first apologize for my error in judgment. My intentions were not malicious or directed toward any certain group of people. I would also like to say that everyone who knows my character and knows my heart, knows that I have never seen color in my life. I wasn’t raised or taught that way and do not raise my children that way. I see people for who they are, and my wife and I go out of our way to help anyone we can in my profession as an educator. When deciding to dress up for a Halloween party, my wife and I made a decision based on celebrities and the political climate today. I do not want this to reflect on my school or school system based on my poor decision that I made. Again I apologize and this will not happen again.
Sincerely,
Heath Morrow
Nichols said the district is investigating the incident, but he wouldn't comment on the teacher's current employment status with the school.
Apology from Decatur teacher who took picture dressed in blackface as Kanye West for private Halloween party. @whnt pic.twitter.com/2H7LkIRMBQ
— David Kumbroch WHNT (@davidknews) October 26, 2015