Gigi Hadid Apologizes for Her Melania Trump Impression

Following Sunday's American Music Awards, Gigi Hadid has issued an apology about her Melania Trump impression. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills daughter co-hosted the awards show with Saturday Night Live alum Jay Pharoah, and during their opening monologue, she slipped into character as the future First Lady, poking fun at Melania Trump’s plagiarism of Michelle Obama during her Republican National Convention speech over the summer.

"I was honored to host the AMA's 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," the model wrote on Twitter in handwritten letter. "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, Gigi."

In the wake of the controversy, Jay is standing by his co-host and their joke by defending it on Facebook, and in an emoji-filled message on Twitter, writing, "I just wanna laugh, make people laugh and take their mind off of s***, that's the most important mission to me."

Gigi's mom, Yolanda Hadid (who attended the show that night), was also quick to jump to her daughter's defense, quoting a lyric from Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved" and also praising her daughter's apology.

Check out throwback photos of the Hadid family, below.