Racist remark by US academic sparks graduation ceremony walkout

A US academic has issued a bizarre apology after coming under fire for making a racist comment towards African-Americans during a college graduation speech.

TNT Academy founder Nancy Gordeuk was speaking in Lilburn, Georgia on Friday when she accidentally ended the graduation ceremony before the college valedictorian had made their speech, Fox 8 reports.

With students filing out, Mrs Gordeuk angrily demanded they resume their seats.

"You people are being so rude, to not listen to this speech," Mrs Gordeuk said.

"It was my fault that we missed it in the program. Look who's leaving… all the black people."

The ceremony attendees immediately erupted in anger, with the comment prompting an even larger exodus.

Twitter users called on Ms Gordeuk to be fired.

"Nancy Gordeuk, shame on you. There's no way you should be guiding our youth," user DeWayne Brooks said.

Mrs Gordeuk blamed "the devil" for her comments.

"I'm sorry this is getting all blown out of proportion because just part of the video is being seen and not the whole," Mrs Gordeuk said. "I told my husband it didn't sound like me or feel like me even saying it."

"I'm sorry for what I said … The devil was in the house."

TNT Academy offers a university bridging course program for high school students, according to its official website.