Gigi Hadid apologizes for Melania Trump impersonation

Gigi Hadid has apologized to those offended by her impersonation of future First Lady Melania Trump at the American Music Awards on Sunday (20Nov16).

The model co-hosted the music awards show in Los Angeles with comedian Jay Pharoah and during one segment, she did an impression of President-elect Donald Trump's Slovenia-born wife by pouting her lips, attempting her accent, and poking fun at rumors Melania plagiarized a speech made by current First Lady Michelle Obama for her own at the Republican National Convention.

"This is my Melania Trump impression. I gotta get the face right," she said. "I love my husband, President Barack Obama... And our children, Sasha and Malia."

Her impression was met with criticism online, with one Twitter user calling it "disrespectful" and another suggesting it was a "little racist" .

Gigi has now responded to the backlash with a handwritten note, which she uploaded on Twitter, by telling her fans she held no ill will against Melania and was simply doing it for comedic value.

“I removed or changed anything in the script that I felt took the joke too far, and whether or not you choose to see it, what remained was done in good humor and with no bad intent,” Gigi wrote. “I too have been the center of a nationally televised comedy skit that poked fun at my actions, and was able to find the humor in it.”

“I believe Melania understands show business and the way shows are written and run. I apologize to anyone that I offended and have only the best wishes for our country."

Rocker Courtney Love joked on Twitter she was waiting for Trump to demand an apology from Gigi as he had done with the cast of Hamilton for making a speech to his vice president Mike Pence.

"just waiting for the President-elect to tweet @GiGiHadid demanding an apology.. #trumpaloompa," she wrote alongside a meme of Trump as an Oompa Loompa from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.