Financial group forced to issue apology after Giuliani delivers racist comments at dinner

A financial services trade group issued a formal apology to its members this week after former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani made off-the-cuff racist comments during a speech to the group.

According to the New York Observer -- a paper published by Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner -- Giuliani made comments about the kitchen staff working the dinner at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel where the dinner was held.

Calling the Trump adviser's remarks, "unscripted," the CEO of the Commercial Finance Association apologized.

“At CFA’s 40 Under 40 Awards last Thursday night, keynote speaker Rudolph Giuliani veered sharply off course from the leadership message he agreed to deliver and presented unscripted personal opinions which were independent of CFA’s political position or core values,” CEO Bob Trojan wrote. "For those of you who were offended by Mr. Giuliani’s remarks, please accept my sincere apology.”

According to an attendee, Giuliani's comments were met with silence.

“Rudy talked about immigration and made a really, really inappropriate comment about the quote-unquote Mexicans in the kitchen at the Waldorf,” the attendee said. “It was bad. You could hear a pin drop. I think he was looking for applause.”

The apology came one day after the International Council of Shopping Centers axed Giuliani as their keynote speaker at their annual conference after members complained about his rhetoric while on the campaign trail for GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.