SNL writer Katie Rich was inundated with complaints from Twitter users after she made a joke about ten-year-old Barron Trump on Inauguration Day

A Saturday Night Live writer who made a bad-taste joke about Barron Trump on Twitter has apologized for her 'inexcusable' actions after she was suspended from the show.

On Inauguration Day Katie Rich tweeted that the ten-year-old boy would become 'this country's first homeschool shooter,' but deleted it three hours later.

She then came in for an avalanche of criticism from Twitter users, who branded her 'scum', called for her account to be blocked, and urged NBC to fire her.

Rich wasn't fired, but she was suspended indefinitely from working on the show after the furor failed to cool down over the weekend, an insider told Deadline Monday.

The same day, she tweeted: 'I sincerely apologize for the insensitive tweet. I deeply regret my actions & offensive words. It was inexcusable & I'm so sorry.'

Scroll down for video

Rich apologized on Monday for the 'insensitive' and 'inexcusable' joke. That same say it emerged she had been suspended indefinitely for the bad-taste gag

She wrote: 'Barron will be this country's first homeschool shooter' and faced a barrage of criticism for the tasteless joke. She deleted it three hours later

Barron accompanied his family to Washington DC last weekend, where he was thrust into the limelight during his father's inauguration

Despite Rich's joke, he will continue to attend the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in New York for the rest of the year. Melania Trump will oversee him

Rich was not credited on Saturday's edition of the show, and it's not known when she will return.

The response to her apology was mixed, to say the least.

Many doubted the sincerity of her apology, with users John McLemore suggesting that Rich's 'conscience kicked in when the backlash started,' and Domenico Cusumano saying 'This came from somewhere that was contrived by the masses.'

And a user named 'Ashley' said: 'These people so quick to accept your insincere apology are the same ones that hold a grudge towards Trump for saying far less.'

Others were just unable to overcome their disgust at her remark.

A user called Joey complained: 'Attacking a 10 year old? Disgusting,' while Eric Mulholland wrote: 'Insensitive probably isn't the word for it.

'You should be fired for even thinking that was remotely funny.'

Even some of those who were nominally on Rich's side didn't agree with her bad-taste gag.

'Please don't do or say these things in the future, very hateful, it's the exact opposite what we need today,' said Howard Vince. 'Protest w class.'

Meanwhile, Klau said: 'I'm not a Trump supporter, quite the opposite, but that was a horrible thing you did. Barron is a kid! Shame on you!'

Many responses to Rich's apology were angry - some doubted whether she was being honest, while others couldn't overcome their disgust at the initial remark

But Rich did have some supporters - even those on Team Trump.

'We all make mistakes,' said Richard DeCosmis. 'Lets move on, and I'm a Trump supporter.'

On a more positive note, the SNL Afterparty podcast tweeted: 'take your lumps and then go write something great for next week's #SNL. #LifeGoesOn'

It's not clear whether that tweet indicates that Rich's 'indefinite' suspension will be over after this week.

And others unequivocally backed Rich.

'So many against your tweet preaching against insensitivity, but showing their own insensitivity in replies,' said Brad Leese. 'Hang in there!'

Wenzier Power said: 'Love your work @katiemaryrich! It's sad that you're held to a higher standard than the President, but you're also clearly a bigger person.'

And a user named Margaret simply tweeted: 'tbh I lol'd. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯'

The SNL Afterparty podcast told Rich to 'write something great for next week's SNL'. It's not clear if this was insider knowledge suggesting her 'indefinite' suspension will end soon

But many others supported her for the apology, and told her to withstand the harsh criticism

Rich wrote the ill-thought-out gag a little after noon on Inauguration Day.

Critics slammed the writer for the 'tasteless' joke and called her 'sick' and 'disgusting' for targeting Trump's youngest child.

Sam Janney, tweeting under the username @PolitiBunny, wrote: 'Kids are off limits...and the internet is forever. Shameful @katiemaryrich'

Dennis ONeill wrote: '@latiemaryrich what's your problem. Do you get off picking on little kids? No wonder SNL is garbage these days. You work for them.'

Some Twitter users demanded that she apologize, while several others called for NBC to terminate her contract.

Rich deleted the tweet hours later and set her account to protected, but that seemed to anger some on social media even more, as they continued to berate her online.

Some Twitter users demanded that she apologize after Friday's tweet, while several others called for NBC to terminate her contract

Ten-year-old Barron, who was thrust into the limelight this weekend as he accompanied his family to Washington DC, will become the first son of a president to live in the White House since John F Kennedy Jr.

But he will be staying put in New York with Melania Trump until he finishes out the year at the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School, where tuition starts at $44,120 for those enrolling in pre-K.

Rich wasn't alone in incurring the wrath of Twitter users on Inauguration Day.

Modern Family actor Julie Bowen made a series of lighthearted posts expressing her dismay for the new president on her Instagram - making the mistake of sharing several screenshots of Barron taken during the inauguration.

Like Rich, she faced a barrage of comments that slammed her for singling out the boy, who was positioned behind his father.

Modern Family actor Julie Bowen made a series of lighthearted posts expressing her dismay for the new president on her Instagram on Friday - but made the mistake of including Barron

She shared several screenshots of Barron during the inauguration. She joked that the ten-year-old was busy on his Gameboy in one caption

Bowen posted a photo of Barron looking down and wrote: 'I think Barron is on his Gameboy. Can't say I can blame him.'

In another photo, showing the boy with both hands around his head looking bewildered, Bowen wrote: 'Barron, a voting majority shares your horror. #barronforpresident'

The actor posted another photo of the National Mall looking relatively empty, and wrote: 'Lotta empty space at "the big show"'

Trump supporters expressed their anger at Bowen, calling her a 'pathetic celebrity' and a 'jerk'.

But other stepped in and defended Bowen. One Instagram user, @nicalips1972 wrote: 'She's not picking on him, lighten up! His dad says whatever he wants, why can't the rest of us!'

User Sealskim wrote: 'Thank you Funny Julie Bowen...we will need humor to get us through the next 4!'