Photo: CTV

While many think it lacks sincerity, the man who ran into a CTV Vancouver live broadcast and directed vulgar obscenities at a female reporter has apologized.

Nicolas Pogossian headed to CTV Vancouver headquarters Monday afternoon to issue his apology.

“It was just a stupid, impulsive decision on my behalf,” said Pogossian.

“I’m just hoping that I can set my story straight, and that I can apologize to the people at CTV and to the reporter. People make mistakes, and I’m just here to apologize for what was said.”

Pogossian said he was “dumbfounded” when the incident “blew up all over the news.”

“I didn’t think it was a big deal at first… I didn’t think it would blow up as big as it would, so it was definitely a surprise to me,” he told CTV News.

“I was freaking out obviously, because it was kind of bad publicity for me.”

CTV's Sarah MacDonald was wrapping up a live report from a large Pokémon Go meetup on Robson Street last Thursday night when Pogossian walked beside her, filming himself on Snapchat and said "f*** her right in the poke balls."

After the incident, Vancouver Police Sgt. Randy Fincham told CTV the suspect could be subject to assault charges.

"It's certainly something we'll look at and if charges are appropriate then we'll look at that," he said

"The media are here to perform a service, just like we are, of sharing what's happening with the public and I hope people would recognize that and appreciate that and leave them alone."

Pogossian's actions are the latest in a viral phenomenon that flared up about two years ago where hecklers interrupted live television reporters, primarily woman, to yell the comment into a reporter's microphone.

A Toronto engineer was fired from Ontario's Hydro One last year after he was identified shouting the obscenity during a live broadcast outside a soccer stadium, but he was reinstated after an arbitration process.

As for Pogossian, he said he spoke to Vancouver police on Monday, and is really hoping no legal action will be taken.

“If I got the chance to see (the reporter) in person I would definitely apologize to her,” he said. “People make mistakes… hopefully that we can develop a friendship down the road.”

CTV says reporter Sarah MacDonald has yet to personally receive an apology from Pogossian.

– with CTV Vancouver