Alastair Stewart’s accuser just wanted "an apology".
The ITV News broadcaster stepped down from his role this week after he was accused of using the term "angry ape" in a Twitter row with Martin Shapland, who has now spoken out about the controversy.
In a lengthy statement posted on Twitter, he said: "I understand that Mr Stewart has acknowledged the words he used were misjudged and has expressed regret at what happened. I thank him for that.
"No one is perfect. We are all human and we all need to learn from our experiences and mistakes and try to be better people in the wake of them.
"An apology and commitment to be more careful about language was all that I would have asked. It is regrettable that he has decided to stand down and I take no pleasure in that."
Shapland – who called for "a little more respect, kindness and understanding" in the world also claimed that deleted tweets meant some context of the row has been lost.
He explained: "Much of the context of the discussion was lost after tweets were deleted. In so far as Mr Stewart caused hurt and upset, intentionally or otherwise, in an exchange earlier this month, there is a wider context.
"There was not a single post as has been widely reported, but several posts written by Mr Stewart, which have all now been deleted."
During the row over the funding of the Royal Family earlier this month, Alastair quoted William Shakespeare’s ‘Measure for Measure’.
He tweeted: "But man, proud man, Dress’d in a little brief authority. Most ignorant of what he’s most assur’d, his glassy essence — like an angry ape."
Shapland responded: "Just an ITV newsreader referring to me as an ape with the cover of Shakespeare. Measure for measure, Alastair is a disgrace."
In a statement this week, Alastair – who has now deleted his Twitter account – said: "It was a misjudgment which I regret, but it’s been a privilege to bring the news to households throughout the UK for the past 40 years."
Alastair Stewart’s accuser didn’t want broadcaster to ‘stand down’ over row
