Business mogul and News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch is in hot water after apparently questioning the authenticity of Barack Obama as a black president.

Murdoch took to Twitter on Thursday to praise Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson, saying America was ready for a "real black president."

Murdoch, who owns conservative media outlet Fox News Channel, was likely trying to drum up support for a candidate he previously called a "political naïf." However, his attempt seems to have backfired, as many people were outraged at comments they considered to be ignorant and racist.

Several reporters and bloggers similarly went on Twitter to criticize and ridicule Murdoch's comments.

"I only listen to authoritative voices on black identity, like Rupert Murdoch," NBC reporter Ronan Farrow wrote.

"Rupert Murdoch, much less FOX Noise has ZERO credibility to part their lips & say anything about the US Black lives they regularly demonize," tweeted award-winning blogger Monica Roberts.

Murdoch went on to refer to a recent piece from New York magazine, "The Paradox of the First Black President," as supposed evidence of the black community's discontent with Obama. The author of the article was quick to refute this.

"He didn't read the story," Jennifer Senior said in a message to the Washington Post. "A) If he did, and that's the conclusion he drew, Heaven help us all. B) That tweet was part of an extended series, which, when read together, make up a love sonnet to Ben Carson."

If anyone was in support of what Murdoch wrote, it was presidential candidate Ben Carson himself. The retired neurosurgeon said people were overreacting to the comments.

"I know Rupert Murdoch," Carson said during an interview with CNN. "He's not a racist by any stretch of the imagination. He's just expressing his opinion."

When asked if he considered Barack Obama a real black president, Carson replied, "Well he's the president and he's black."

Murdoch later apologized for his comments, tweeting, "No offence meant. Personally find both men charming."