Mark Giangreco

Mark Giangreco, veteran sports anchor at WLS-Channel 7, apologized Wednesday for the wording of a graphic that offended some viewers for its facetious allusion to suicide.

Under a picture of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, the graphic over Giangreco’s shoulder said: “Cut him or cut your wrists.” It aired during the ABC-owned station’s 10 p.m. newscast Tuesday and touched off a firestorm on social media.

“My remarks were inappropriate, and I deeply regret and apologize for this incident,” Giangreco said in a statement posted on TVSpy. “I will be issuing an on-air apology in this evening’s newscast.”

Giangreco, 62, joined ABC 7 as sports director and main sports anchor in 1994 after 12 years at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5.