PR exec Justine Sacco fired over racist tweet

A PUBLIC relations professional in the US has been fired from her job following a global backlash after she posted an incredibly offensive Twitter comment about Africa and AIDS.

Justine Sacco, who works for media company IAC, sent out her tweet to more than 4300 followers as she boarded a plane for South Africa from London's Heathrow Airport, according to Valleywag.

"Going to Africa. Hope I don't get AIDS. Just kidding. I'm white!" she tweeted.

The tweet quickly went viral and a representative from IAC (which is the parent company of Vimeo, Tinder and About.com and many more) has just released a statement confirming Sacco has been fired.

"The offensive comment does not reflect the views and values of IAC," the statement reads. "We take this issue very seriously, and we have parted ways with the employee in question.

"There is no excuse for the hateful statements that have been made and we condemn them unequivocally. We hope, however, that time and action, and the forgiving human spirit, will not result in the wholesale condemnation of an individual who we have otherwise known to be a decent person at core."

Justine Sacco has also offended the Brits after slagging off their oral hygiene on Twitter. Source: Twitter

IAC had earlier released a statement condemning Sacco's joke.

"This is an outrageous, offensive comment that does not reflect the views and values of IAC.

"Unfortunately, the employee in question is unreachable on an inteational flight, but this is a very serious matter and we are taking appropriate action," the statement said.

The former director of corporate communications at IAC has since deleted her Twitter account.

IAC have also removed any mention of her name from its website and contacts page.

She was earlier listed as a media representative.