Gigi Hadid Responds To Backlash After Melania Trump Impersonation

Supermodel Gigi Hadid is responding to the massive backlash she faced after she poked fun at Melania Trump during the American Music Awards on Nov. 20, 2016.

During the show, Hadid, 21, said, "This is my Melania Trump impression. I gotta get the face right," then made a strong, squinting "duck face" pose. She continued in a heavy faux accent, "I love my husband, President Barack Obama, and our children, Sasha and Malia," alluding to Trump's alleged plagiarization during the Republican National Convetion of a speech delivered by Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention. Hadid noted that she'd been practicing the impression all week.

Hadid faced a slew of backlash on Twitter after the incident, with users accusing her of racism, bullying, and taking cheap shots for laughs.

Hadid responded to the hate with a handwritten note that she posted on her social media channels. "I was honored to host the AMAs last night and to work with some of the most respected writers in the business. 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," Hadid 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. Respectfully, G."

Hadid's co-host, former Saturday Night Live star Jay Pharoah, came to her defense in a Facebook post of his own. "Everybody pump the brakes one damn minute," he wrote. "Over the last 8 years the beautiful Michelle Obama has been the victim of excessive slurring! The Beautiful Flotus has been called Ape, Gorilla, Monkey, Manish, Ugly, Disgusting, 'Not fit to be in the whitehouse', always physically attacked by the general populous [sic], nobody really snaps about it! Flotus has always been on point with the wordplay in her speeches," he continued. "At the AMA'S we exaggerated a SPEECH THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, where Melania CLEARLY PLAGIARIZED(cause that was the joke) didn't call her ugly, manish, or anything, and everybody LOSES IT?! Really? GTFOH."

So far, the future first lady has not spoken out about the bit.