Scottsdale City Councilman Guy Phillips said "I can't breathe" twice before taking off his mask at a rally.
"It was a stupid and insensitive comment that I shouldn’t have made, and I had no intention of disrespecting anybody while making that comment," Phillips said.
Phillips said he intended to show how restrictive masks are and NOT to mock Floyd, but also apologized to Floyd's family.
"I am sorry about a comment I made today that was the same comment Mr. Floyd had made. He didn't deserve what happened to him, and I by no means was trying to make light of it by saying I can't breathe in a mask," Phillips said. "Please accept my sincerest apology and that goes out to anyone who became offended."
Masks have been mandated in areas of Arizona where coronavirus cases have climbed.