Good Morning America host apologises for using term 'coloured people' while discussing Zendaya Spiderman rumours

The journalist clarified she instead meant to use the term 'people of colour'

A Good Morning America host has apologised for using the term “coloured people” when discussing racial diversity within Hollywood.

Amy Robach, who co-hosts the flagship American morning current affairs programme, used the term when discussing the rumoured casting of the actress Zendaya as Mary Jane in the upcoming Spider-Man films. The role has been played by a white actress with red hair before and her casting apparently irked a minority of 'fans'.

Discussing Zendaya's rumoured role on Monday, Robach said: “We all know Hollywood has received recent and quite a bit of criticism for casting white actors in what one might assume should be a role reserved for coloured people. Is this potentially an industry trying to right itself and do something right? What do you make of this move, could it be in reaction to all of that negative press before?”

After receiving backlash against the term, the anchor apologised and clarified she instead meant to use the phrase “people of colour”.

Calling the incident a “mistake,” the 43-year old said in a statement: "This morning during a segment about Hollywood casting, I mistakenly said 'coloured people' instead of 'people of colour'. I sincerely apologise. It was a mistake and is not at all a reflection of how I feel or speak in my everyday life."

The initial broadcast sparked some criticism on Twitter, with some remarking how while they do not consider the term to be a “racial slur” it is largely outdated. The term was often used to describe African-Americans in the 1950s and 1960s when racial segregation was legally enforced in the US.

Additional reporting by Associated Press.