NYC Mayor Tries to End Atkins Feud
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By LARRY McSHANE, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - Mayor Michael Bloomberg, embroiled in a battle over remarks he made about diet guru Dr. Robert Atkins, offered his widow a low-carb mea culpa Saturday — an invitation to a steak dinner.



But the mayor, who a day earlier advised an angry Veronica Atkins to "lighten up," didn't deliver an apology himself. Instead, mayoral spokesman Ed Skyler issued a three-sentence statement about the food fight.


"While talking to firefighters about the challenges of losing weight, the mayor made a joke which upset Veronica Atkins," Skyler said. "He never intended to insult her late husband or offend her, and is sorry that has been the result.


"In order to make it up to Mrs. Atkins, the mayor would like to invite her to a steak dinner — no potatoes."


It was unclear if Mrs. Atkins would chew the fat with the mayor. Calls to the offices of Atkins Nutritionals Inc. and a company publicist were not returned Saturday.


The controversial Atkins Diet stresses eating meat, eggs and cheese over high-carbohydrate foods like pasta, potatoes and bread. Bloomberg, during a visit to a Brooklyn firehouse, described Atkins as "fat" and suggested his diet might have led to his death.


Atkins died last year at 72 from head injuries sustained from a fall on an icy sidewalk.


On Friday, an angry Veronica Atkins took the dispute nationwide by appearing on ABC's "Good Morning America" to demand an apology.


"I was very, very hurt," she said. "... And mayor, you did it. Shame on you."


Bloomberg, taping an interview later Friday, said his comments were meant as a joke and there was no need for an apology.