Rick Sanchez apologized for calling "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart a "bigot" during an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos.

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The former CNN host, who was fired after he made the comments about Stewart and implied CNN was part of a Jewish-controlled media empire during a Sirius XM radio appearance, told Stephanopoulos fatigue and a "chip on his shoulder" about discrimination led to his comments, ABC News reported Friday.

"First of all that is not what I meant," Sanchez said of his comments.

"Second of all I apologize and it was wrong for me to be so careless and so inartful," Sanchez said. "But it happened and I can't take it back and, you know what, now I have to stand up and be responsible."

Sanchez said he called Stewart personally Monday to apologize.

"I learned later that he is the classiest guy in the world when I called him and I'm the one who needs to be in trouble," he said.

The former anchor also had kind words for his former place of employment.

"Absolutely, CNN is a wonderful, wonderful organization. They treated me well and took care of my family and I owe them loyalty because they have been good to me," he said. "CNN didn't screw up. Rick Sanchez screwed up. Rick Sanchez was inartful. Rick Sanchez said something that may have been offensive. Rick Sanchez unjustly accused Jon Stewart of being something he's not."