Plus size model Tess Holliday has been forced to apologise after claiming in a recent interview that “black men love me,” prompting widespread criticism.

The US model, who recently appeared in a Guardian weekend magazine spread, told crew members during the shoot: “I do admit that black men love me. I always forget that, and then I come to a black neighbourhood and I remember.”

In response to criticism online and on social media, Holliday, 29, posted an apology on Facebook earlier this week.

The size 24 model apologised for “any hurt that my flippant comment has caused,” adding that she was taking part in an underwear shoot outside when an “older black man cat called [sic] me”.

The most important plus-size moments in fashion Show all 12 1 /12 The most important plus-size moments in fashion The most important plus-size moments in fashion Vogue's 'all shapes and sizes' lingerie shoot Photographed by Cass Bird/Vogue.com The most important plus-size moments in fashion Swimsuitsforall latest campaign featuring Denise Bidot The most important plus-size moments in fashion Lingerie brand Cosabella drops 'plus-size' label in favour of 'extended' sizes cosabella.com The most important plus-size moments in fashion Ashley Graham in the satirical swimsuitsforall advert in response to Protein World's controversial 'beach body ready' campaign swimsuitsforall .com The most important plus-size moments in fashion Plus size retailer Lane Bryant hits out at Victoria's Secret with #ImNoAngel underwear campaign Lane Bryant The most important plus-size moments in fashion Plus-size lingerie collection from Adore Me adoreme.com The most important plus-size moments in fashion Plus size model Ashley Graham makes Sports Illustrated debut in swimwear campaign The most important plus-size moments in fashion UK's first plus size magazine Slink launches Simon Wisbey The most important plus-size moments in fashion Ashley Graham models her new lingerie collection The most important plus-size moments in fashion Myla Dalbesio stars in Calvin Klein's lingerie campaign Calvin Klein The most important plus-size moments in fashion #Fatkini hashtag trending on social media The most important plus-size moments in fashion Candice Huffine is the first plus size model to star in the Pirelli calender

Holliday relayed the incident to the assembled crew “jokingly telling them some semblance of what appeared in print.

“It was also meant to play into the idea that black men like bigger women, but the humour of that doesn't come through,” she says.

The original Guardian piece reports an awkward silence followed the plus size model’s remarks. A silence that Holliday claims was not present: “To further add context, the team included two talented black women - so it was clearly not something intended to cause offence.”

On social media the model's comments have not gone down well.

Holliday admits although she is “not a perfect human being,” she is “doing my best to live up” to the standards of a role model.