‘Arrow’ Star Stephen Amell Apologizes Again For Ahmed Tweets After Fan Posts Video Response

Stephen Amell, star of the hit comic book-based series, Arrow, has issued another apology for his insensitive tweets about Ahmed Mohamed after a fan posted a heartfelt video criticizing him for his statements, Gossip Cop reports.

Ahmed Mohamed is a ninth grader from Texas who was recently arrested after his teacher suspected that the clock that he created himself was a bomb. Mohamed was not allowed to call his parents while he was being interrogated and did not have an attorney present, either. News of his case went viral and soon the hashtag #Istandwithahmed was trending worldwide. Many people saw it as a case of racial profiling and Islamophobia which threatened to crush a young boy’s natural genius.

Ahmed Mohamed built a clock, got arrested, and is now switching schools http://t.co/JTkZFp9N4d pic.twitter.com/eylHQxmxNz

— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) September 19, 2015

But, Stephen Amell had a different perspective. He wanted to focus on the fact that all the press about Ahmed was affecting one group of people unfairly… Texans.

Stereotyping Texas isn’t any better than stereotyping Ahmed. Just so we’re clear.

— Stephen Amell (@amellywood) September 16, 2015

That sentiment was not well received by many Arrow fans and in a string of subsequent tweets, he tried to explain himself and called outrage against him the work of people who were “bored.” He later gave what could only be described as a weak apology.

Didn’t mean to offend anyone. Truthfully. Was simply suggesting that two wrongs don’t make a right. I’ll go away for a bit now. SA — Stephen Amell (@amellywood) September 16, 2015

One Arrow fan, Jennifer Wattley wasn’t having it and decided to make a video about it and post it to Stephen Amell’s Facebook page.

Here’s some of what she said:

“You are not now or will you ever be a victim of institutionalized racism in North America,” she says in the video. “Institutionalized racism, especially in the United States, affects all non-white people of color, all non-white passing people of color.”

‘I don’t think you’re a bad guy, I don’t think you’re a racist, I don’t think you’re bad guy. I think you said something really stupid and then didn’t take the time to listen to the better voices who were trying to tell you what you said is dumb, what you said is hurtful and what you said is perpetuating a system of stereotypes and what you said is perpetuating a system of inequalities.”

Although Jennifer said that she didn’t expect Stephen Amell to respond but he did, in a very long Facebook comment that still reads as defensive.

“Now… I’m could go point / counterpoint on your video. You saying I don’t care… that I don’t get it… that I was simply equating two things when I explicitly stated that was not my intention… I don’t want to do that. I want to apologize. For a couple of reasons. First, just because. Pride gets in the way sometimes. So let’s get rid of that. I’m sorry. If you were offended, found me trite or disingenuous, I’m sorry.”

“Second, I made specific statements… but in a medium where people can’t hear my tone of voice, and the inability to be particular in tone made people that were in my corner (that’s a weird thing to type) feel disrespected. So I’m sorry. I have a very, very large audience, a high school education and no safety net or filter in front of me. I’m an actor. I’m not a Professor of sociology or an expert on the psychology of anyone who has to exist in any culture as a minority. I’m not an expert on religion or the history of particular regions. Quite simply I should have left things to smarter people. So again, I’m sorry.”

“Thanks Stephen. Seriously. Thank you.” Jennifer wrote in to his comment.

All of this controversy regarding Stephen Amell Twitter comments may dilute some fans’ excitement about the Arrow Season 4. The recently released trailer hinted at new characters being added, a name change for Arrow, and of course more #olicity.

According to Entertainment Weekly, fans can also expect a light tone from Arrow Season 4.

“Ever since Slade Wilson [Manu Bennett] came to town around [season 2, episode 15], the show has been on this very, very dark path, leading to Sara’s [Caity Lotz] death and the culmination of season 3,” explains executive producer Marc Guggenheim. “Our goal was to return the show more in the tone of the first season-and-a-half.”

To see how this lighter tone translates to screen, you’ll have to tune in to watch Stephen Amell and co. on the Arrow Season 4 premiere on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.

[Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]