Andy Kropa/Getty ImagesSherri Shepherd is apologizing in the wake of remarks she recently made that have been considered by many to be anti-gay.
On Tuesday's episode of The View, the 46-year-old cohost addressed her interview with Fusion host Alicia Menendez in which she opened up about her conservative Christian faith.
"Working on a talk show that's centered in the opinion business, there's been several things that I've shared in the press that have upset people, and typically I don't respond to the criticism," Shepherd said. "However, I'd like to say I'm truly sorry to anyone I've offended with the viewpoints I expressed on Alicia Menendez Tonight on the Fusion network."
She continued, saying, "My interview was misrepresented, and only a portion of my comments were used as a headline to give the impression that I was condemning members of the LGBT community living in their own truth. In the interview, I express I was raised as a child to have a certain set of beliefs, but my beliefs have evolved significantly as my own personal relationship with Christ has increased.
"I believe that love is the grace of all things and I have no desire to judge anybody by who they are. I'm a person of compassion and anyone who knows me knows that I love, I accept, I embrace everybody who has love in their hearts. So I love you."
During her one-on-one with Menendez, Shepherd was asked what she thinks is the public's biggest misconception of her.
"I think people don't know my heart. I think people feel I'm very judgmental. I think people feel I'm very homophobic. If they knew me, and knew my heart...If you come to me respectfully and ask me about my beliefs, I'll talk to you about anything."
Shepherd went on, "You grow up being a Christian and you have grown up believing homosexuality is a sin, you're going to hell if you're a homosexual. This is something that I grew up believing. I always tell people, 'I may not agree with your lifestyle, but I love you. You may not agree with my lifestyle, but you love me.'"
As for her thoughts on homosexuality, Shepherd shared, "Some people say it's a choice. I don't say it's a choice. If you tell me, 'Sherri, I was born gay.' OK. I'm not gonna argue with you, because I can't tell you how you feel and what's going on inside. I'm trying to make it to heaven by the skin of my teeth...So if you tell me you're born [gay], I'm not gonna argue with you. And I absolutely respect you for that. I just ask that people respect how I feel, respect how you feel and we can have a great dialogue."