Vulgar E-mail Shocks Recipients, Embarrasses State Insurance Commission

A state agency has some explaining to do.

Nearly 2,000 people received a vulgar e-mail from the Oklahoma Insurance Department. The e-mail was intended to announce an awards ceremony for notable Oklahomans, but one award was going to the girl with the biggest breasts. To add insult to injury, the word breast wasn't actually used.

"I think the best way to handle this is directly and apologize up front," said Insurance Commissioner John Doak. "I apologize to the women of my department and to the women of Oklahoma and to the people this affected."

The original e-mail went out at 4:21 p.m., followed by a corrected authorized email 25 minutes later. An apology from Doak himself went out at 5:35 p.m.

Doak said the original e-mail wasn't cleared by the appropriate staff, but he went on to say the employee who sent the e-mail is embarrassed as well and has been a responsible employee up until this point.

He said disciplinary actions are a human resources matter and will be handled internally.