Jay Leno's sorry about Gay remarks

By M&C Smallscreen Apr 2, 2008, 1:38 GMT

Jay Leno -© Lee Roth / RothStock / PR Photos

Chat show host Jay Leno's sorry about his "gayest look" crack to Ryan Phillippe.

The Tonight Show host issued a statement Tuesday saying he was sorry for making a series of gay jokes at the expense of guest Phillippe last week.

"In talking about Ryan's first role, I realize that what I said came out wrong. I certainly didn't mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say and I apologize."

The actor, attempting to discuss his film Stop-Loss, wound up getting the third degree by Leno gay teenager soap role.

"Say that camera is your gay lover," Leno prompted: "Can you give me your gayest look? Say that camera is Billy Bob [Thornton]—Billy Bob has just ridden in shirtless from Wyoming."

"Wow," Phillippe replied. "That is so something I don't want to do. Are you just going to embarrass me tonight?"

"No," said Leno. "I got more stuff. This is the least of it."

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation blasted the remarks as "a misguided use of adolescent 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."

A website called mygayestlook.com sprouted up where people submitted photos of themselves with the middle finger extended.