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Geraldo Rivera is apologizing for comments he made Friday where he blamed Trayvon Martin's choice of clothing in the Florida teen's death.  He said, "I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as George Zimmerman was," causing a firestorm of backlash against the journalist. 

He retracted his statement in an email to POLITICO, writing, "I apologize to anyone offended by what one prominent black conservative called my ‘very practical and potentially life-saving campaign urging black and Hispanic parents not to let their children go around wearing hoodies.’”

He added, "[M]y own family and friends believe [that] I have obscured or diverted attention from the principal fact, which is that an unarmed 17-year old was shot dead by a man who was never seriously investigated by local police. And if that is true, I apologize.”

For a full transcript of the conversation click HERE.

But here's the meat of Rivera's statement that's causing an uproar on Twitter:

"I believe that George Zimmerman, the overzealous neighborhood watch captain should be investigated to the fullest extent of the law and if he is criminally liable, he should be prosecuted. But I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as George Zimmerman was."

When asked if he would take back the comments, Rivera originally told POLITICO in an email, “Absolutely not."  Rivera explores his theory in a column tittled, "Trayvon Martin Would Be Alive but for his Hoodie."