US comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who hosts ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show, has apologized for an offensive skit in which a kid suggested they should "kill everyone in China" as a way to solve the US debt problem.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I apologize," said Kimmel. "It's most certainly not my intent to upset anyone," Kimmel said in his show broadcast Monday night.

"There seemed to be a lot of people upset with me today, more upset than usual," because "on the show a couple of weeks ago, I was talking to a group of 5- and 6-year-old kids, about a bunch of things, and during that segment, one of the kids said something that offended people."

In the show on October 16, Kimmel asked children on how the United States should deal with the government shutdown and national debt owed to China. One of the children commented that the United States should "kill everyone in China," creating an uproar in the Chinese community.

"I thought it was obvious that I didn't agree with that statement," continued Kimmel.

Critics said that Kimmel was wrong for not stopping the comment and failing to explain to the children that it was not the right idea, and even worse the ABC failed to remove the comment from the show, which was taped before it went on air.

The offensive comment has sparked indignation and protests from the Chinese community. ABC has previously sent a letter to a Chinese American organization to apologize.