If you were listening to Howard Stern this morning, you may have caught Jonah Hill apologizing profusely for using a homophobic slur — and the star has unequivocally taken responsibility for any offense he may have caused.
In case you missed it, Jonah Hill wound up on the wrong side of the outrage machine this weekend, despite being a vocal advocate of gay rights.
In a fuzzy clip, Hill is being tailed by paparazzi — and eventually, the actor loses his cool. After being tailed for a time, Hill snaps at the photog and says, “suck my d***, you f****.”
TMZ ran the clip, and subsequent audio (above, with some explicit language) of Hill’s mea culpa on Howard Stern.
If you heard Hill firsthand, he was audibly bothered by his outburst.
Calling his own comments “disgusting,” he added that the comments were “rooted in hate,” and that the word is in no way reflective of his views.
He adds:
“I played into what he wanted and lost my cool, and in that moment, I said a disgusting word that does not at all reflect how I feel about any group of people.”
Jonah says the term is not part of his vernacular, adding he is “happy to take the heat for using this disgusting word,” and said:
“I’m not at all defending my choice of words, but I am happy to be the poster boy for thinking about what you say.”
Hill stated that one of his best friends is planning a wedding and is gay, and he mused:
“It would break my heart to think that anyone would think that I would be against anyone for their sexuality.”
In his lengthy discussion with Stern, Jonah indicates that while he feels badly, he also doesn’t feel he should get a pass for using the slur “f*****.” Stern concurred, adding that he too is a major champion of gay rights — but also noted that the word is “part of the vernacular” and unlearning it as an insult is challenging.
Stern told Hill he doesn’t believe the actor hates gay people, and he doesn’t think any less of the star for his angry outburst.
Hill replied that the incident had caused a “heartbreaking morning” for him as he copes with the fallout from the incident.
Audio of Jonah Hill and Howard Stern discussing the incident (with Robin) is available on Stern’s Soundcloud .
[Image: Jonah Hill, Wolf Of Wall Street screencap]