Fox News contributor apologizes 'as a gay woman and feminist' to autistic child she mocked

Conservative Fox News contributor Tammy Bruce was forced to apologize on Tuesday after describing a 10-year-old autistic child as a "snowflake" in need of a "safe space."

After accidentally being struck by Vice President Mike Pence's hand during a speech honoring military families at the White House for National Military Spouse Appreciation day, the child — Michael — felt that he was owed an apology, and his persistence in getting one was documented in a video that went viral last week.

During a segment that aired on Fox News on Friday, Bruce mocked the autistic child's needy plea for an apology and said, "I guess we’re giving birth to snowflakes now, because that looked like that kid needed a safe space in that room," and claimed that the child "pretty much stalked the vice president afterwards."

“The fabric on his sleeve touched his nose maybe," Bruce said. "He stalks the vice president, says, ‘you owe me an apology.'"

See the original video below.

On Monday, the child's mother — Dr. Ingrid Herrera-Yee — appeared on CNN's "The Lead With Jake Tapper" to decry Bruce's comments about her autistic son.

“Michael is 10 years old," Herrera-Yee said. "He is on the autism spectrum. He's a military child. And he loves the White House."

She continued, "I was devastated when I saw what they were saying."

"People who — they didn't even know his age," Herrera-Yee added. "They didn't know who he was, but really taking out of context a really innocent interchange between the vice president and my son."

Bruce's apology came on Tuesday's airing of "America's Newsroom."

She said:

"First of all, I am so sorry to the family. My intention was never to hurt a kid and his mom. We had absolutely no idea that Michael was on the autism spectrum. And as a gay woman and feminist, I have spent most of my adult life working to improve the lives of women and children and those who are disenfranchised. I get it and I apologize. I also appreciated the boy's mother — Dr. Herrera-Yee's — public comments, and her clarity on this. A main lesson here, no matter intent, is to leave kids out of our political discussions. We certainly agree on this."

See Bruce's apology in the video below.

WATCH: Fox News' Bill Hemmer and Tammy Bruce apologize for mocking ten-year-old boy on autism spectrum as a snowflake. pic.twitter.com/U3kIKF8J5S

— Yashar (@yashar) May 16, 2017