Gigi Hadid Addresses Melania Trump Impression Backlash

Gigi Hadid has released a handwritten statement defending her impersonation of Melania Trump.

The supermodel-turned-American Music Awards co-host parodied the future First Lady during her opening monologue on Sunday night, even referencing Melania’s reported plagiarism of Michelle Obama‘s speech during the Republican National Convention this summer.

After facing backlash on social media, Hadid took to Twitter the next day to defend her Melania impression.

“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 21-year-old wrote on Monday.

“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 your country. Respectfully, G,” she concluded.

During her opening monologue, Gigi’s co-host and Saturday Night Live alum Jay Pharaoh debuted his Donald Trump impression.

Pharaoh also addressed Gigi’s critics on Monday with a Facebook post writing, “Everybody pump the brakes one damn minute! 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, nobody really snaps about it!”

Adding, “Flotus has always been on point with the wordplay in her speeches. 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.”

This article originally appeared on People.com