I think this is way worse than a racial slur and gets into sadistic images, reminiscant of KKK etc. The pitchfork comment is 1000 times worse I think. There are few of us who don't have some sort of bigotry submerged in the dark recesses of our minds, but that is an exceptionally cruel image he depicted and I think that is where the apology should be focused and the damage should be lessened. mg