Ian McKellen is apologizing after he made a controversial comment in which he suggested that Kevin Spacey and Bryan Singer allegedly committed abuse because they were “in the closet.”
The legendary actor, who is openly gay, made the comments while speaking on the #QueerAF podcast.
“Most of them were in the closet. Hence, all their problems as people and their relationship with other people,” Ian said. “If they had been able to be open about themselves and their desires, they wouldn’t have started abusing people in the way they’ve been accused.”
Ian added that it’s “debatable” if accused individuals like Spacey and Singer should be “forced to stop working.”
“I rather think that’s up to the public,” he said. “Do you want to see someone who has been accused of something that you don’t approve of again? If the answer’s no, then you won’t buy a ticket, you won’t turn on the television. But there may be others for who that’s not a consideration. And it’s difficult to be exactly black and white.”
Ian later issued a statement to apologized for what he said.
“As part of an extended podcast recently, I suggested that if closeted people were instead open about their sexuality they wouldn’t abuse others. That, of course, is wrong,” he said (via Entertainment Tonight).
“My intention was to encourage the LGBT audience I was addressing to be proud and open about their sexuality,” he added. “In doing so, my point was clumsily expressed. I would never, ever trivialize or condone abuse of any kind. I deeply regret my careless remarks and apologize unreservedly for any distress I caused.”
