NBCEmily Blunt says she did not mean to hurt anyone when she made what she called an "off-hand joke" about her new U.S. citizenship and the first GOP Primary debate.
In a video interview posted on Monday, the 32-year-old British-born Devil Wears Prada actress and wife of The Office alum John Krasinski, 35, had told The Hollywood Reporter that after she was sworn in as an American citizen, she watched the debate in August, which featured the likes of Chris Christie, Jeb Bush and leading candidate Donald Trump.
"I thought, 'This was a terrible mistake. What have I done?'" Blunt told the outlet.
The result: Outrage from many patriotic readers and Fox News journalists, including Steve Doocy, who declared that the actress "just Dixie Chicked herself."
Emily Blunt not happy she got American citizenship Ungrateful. No worries We wont think of you as an American in America or at theboxoffice!
? Lisa (@lisafedup) September 15, 2015So, #EmilyBlunt-u regret becoming a citizen? Please leave MY COUNTRY-THE ONE THAT MADE U A STAR #UNGRATEFUL#ARROGANT
? fran doos (@fdoos) September 15, 2015Other people came to her defense.
#EmilyBlunt was not being offensive, she was being funny and honest. I too was terrified by the first #GOPDebate
? Kaitlin Braga (@k_shaye_b) September 16, 2015"I just, it was so not the intention to hurt anybody or cause any offense, so I really apologize to those I caused offense," Blunt said on NBC's Today show on Thursday. "It was just an off-hand joke. I think I'll probably leave the political jokes to late-night or something."
The second GOP Primary debate took place on Wednesday. It is unclear if Blunt watched.
She had also talked about getting American citizenship in an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week and angered Fox News commentators and others with her comments again.
"It's so strange and slightly disarming," the actress said. "I'm not sure I'm entirely thrilled about it. People asked me about [it] the whole day. They were like, 'Oh, it must have been so emotional.' And I was like, 'It wasn't. It was sad! I like being British. It was the most bizarre day."
Blunt told Jimmy Kimmel the U.S. citizenship test she had to take was the "hardest test" she's ever had to take and that she guarantees "most Americans would have no idea how to answer any of these questions."
Those obtaining U.S. citizenship by means of naturalization must declare, on oath, that they "absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty." In Blunt's case, this meant Queen Elizabeth II.
"But the thing that's weird is that I do actually get to keep both my British citizenship and this but you have to renounce her, so, but it's kind of typically American...not to be rude," the actress told Kimmel. "But I had to renounce her in the room but I don't actually technically renounce her. But they were like, 'Just say it. You don't have to mean it.' It was so perfect."
On the Today show, Blunt said standing and taking the oath was "really meaningful."
"My two favorite people in the world are American, my husband and my daughter," she said, referring to her and Krasinksi's 1-year-old daughter Hazel. "It was kind of a special day. Yeah, it was great."
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