Artie Lange apologizes for racist, sexist tweets

Artie Lange, former Howard Stern sidekick of sorts, tweeted a string sexual, racist tweets targeting ESPN First Take host Cari Champion.

And now he is apologizing to her, as ESPN has banned him from the network.

It all started on Tuesday as he began tweeting that she was "hot" and went on to get increasingly more graphic, including one tweet in which he said "I'm T Jefferson & she's my slave."

Here's one of the more tame remarks:

He later defended the tweets by saying he was just sharing his "observation" that Champion is "a gorgeous lady." Fans took sides, with some calling him "deplorable" and others telling him to ignore the haters.

But ESPN didn't see it as funny. In a statement, the network called the comments "reprehensible." TMZ says ESPN has banned him, nixing him from any future bookings.

In a Facebook post, Lange defends himself and apologizes - but only to Champion:

"I would rather load trucks for a living then ever apologize to one of these awful PC groups ruining the country. So that's a NO. But if it upset the lady in question that's another story. Let me say to Cari Champion if this hurt u in any way I'm sorry. I'm a comedian. Sometimes I'm funny! For the record my moms disgusted w the tweets. But if I based my humor on my mom I'd be broke."

Comedy Central nixed an appearance by Lange on Wednesday's night @Midnight show.

Champion has not commented.