Forbes Apologizes for Calling Irish President Gay

Financial news publisher Forbes says it's apologizing to Ireland's president for inaccurately describing him as gay in an online article.

The New York-based media company pulled the offending piece from its website Wednesday and replaced it with an apology to readers and, indirectly, to President Michael D. Higgins.

"Forbes will be issuing an apology to President Higgins in a separate correspondence," the publisher said.

Higgins, who has a wife and four children, offered no immediate response.

The article, posted Tuesday by Ireland-based blogger David Monagan, called Higgins an "acknowledged homosexual."

Higgins, a poet and intellectual who supports gay rights, was elected as Ireland's ceremonial head of state in 2011. One candidate he defeated, Sen. David Norris, is Ireland's foremost campaigner for gay rights and famously open about his homosexuality.