NBC’s Washington affiliate removed a tweet on Monday that described Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) putting on “his own black face mask.”

“In a striking moment, Gov. Ralph Northam put on his own black face mask. He urged every Virginian to do the same,” wrote NBC Washington on its official twitter account.

The tweet came under some ridicule online, with many saying it recalled Northam’s 2019 blackface controversy, which led to calls for his resignation. 

“Upon closer examination, the governor’s face mask appears to be dark green,” the station wrote in another tweet.

In February 2019, photos from Northam’s 1984 medical school yearbook were unearthed by the right-wing publication Big League Politics that appeared to show him in blackface and a Ku Klux Klan outfit. Northam apologized for the photo, resisted calls to resign and was able to eventually weather the storm. He also insisted he was not the person pictured wearing the KKK outfit.

Reactions to the since-deleted tweets from NBC Washington quickly came pouring in on social media.

I give you the worst (or best?) worded tweet of the year. pic.twitter.com/9zYi0Iahka

— neontaster (@neontaster) April 6, 2020

I am laughing so hard right now. pic.twitter.com/tm8UvptJPI

— JERRY DUNLEAVY (@JerryDunleavy) April 6, 2020

Why would you delete this masterpiece pic.twitter.com/orz9dTr2W8

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 6, 2020

.@NBCWashington deleted this truly amazing tweet pic.twitter.com/49hvzBVENa

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 6, 2020

I’m thinking @GovernorVA has had some experience with masks and hoods…just sayin’… https://t.co/Y7TJkpvgKP

— Tony Shaffer (@T_S_P_O_O_K_Y) April 6, 2020

The station apologized on Twitter, calling the tweets “a misjudgment.”

“Correction: We made a misjudgment in a tweet about Gov. Northam’s face mask. We sincerely apologize for the error,” it reads.

Correction: We made a misjudgment in a tweet about Gov. Northam’s face mask. We sincerely apologize for the error.

— NBCWashington (@nbcwashington) April 6, 2020

The Hill has reached out to NBC Washington for comment.