HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Jay Leno issued an apology Tuesday after upsetting the gay community with remarks he made during an interview of Ryan Phillippe on "The Tonight Show" last week.
"In talking about Ryan's first role, I realize that what I said came out wrong," Leno said in a statement. "I certainly didn't mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say and I apologize."
On last Thursday's show, Leno started asking Phillippe about his professional debut, in which the actor played a gay teenager on the soap opera "One Life to Live."
"Say that camera is your gay lover," Leno suggested, "can you give me your gayest look?"
Phillippe, who was on hand to promote his new film "Stop-Loss," was visibly uncomfortable following the exchange.
"Wow," replied the 33-year-old star. "That is so something I don't want to do. Are you just going to embarrass me tonight?"
"No," responded Leno. "I got more stuff. This is the least of it."
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation responded immediately, criticizing the talk-show host for his poor attempt at humor.
"We are proud of Ryan for refusing to participate in Leno's thoughtless attempt at humor," GLAAD president Neil G. Giuliano said in a statement. "Under the guise of comedy, the talk show host is demonstrating a lack of respect for the gay community and insensitivity to both his coworkers and the audience, to whom he owes an apology."
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