After his controversial Playboy interview was published, Gary Oldman admitted, "I am an a--hole."
The Rise of the Planet of the Apes star appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Wednesday to promote the movie, but he also used it as an opportunity to further apologize for blasting liberal Hollywood, and defending Mel Gibson and Alec Baldwin regarding their controversial remarks about Jews and gays.
"I said some things that were poorly considered, and once I had seen it in print, I could see that it was offensive, insensitive, pernicious and ill-informed," an emotional Oldman said. "Words have meaning. They carry weight and they carry on long after you've said them, and I don't condone or excuse the words I used in any context. I just basically shouldn't have used them in any context, but I did, and I have deeply injured and wounded a great many people."
"I appreciate you having me here and extending your hospitality to put me in this seat once again, and it gives me the opportunity to say to those people that I, from my heart, I am profoundly, profoundly sorry and deeply apologetic—especially to the fans, because they have been so incredible to me and very loyal."
"My nickname is, they're Team Oldman, and I really feel that I let them down," he said. "Especially to the younger fans. I'm a public figure. I should be an example and an inspiration, and I-m an a-hole. I'm 56 and should know better. To them I also say, I extend my apology and my love and best wishes to my fan base."
Jimmy Kimmel lightened the mood, joking, "I'm stuck on the fact that you call your fans Team Oldman." He also quipped, "I'm so happy that someone has to apologize on this show and it's not me for once."
Oldman continued to apologize, saying, "We're public figures. I think sometimes we're looked upon—we're asked to be—social or cultural or political commentators, and I can't speak for other people, but I'm not. Clearly! And I stepped out of my area of expertise and I just landed both feet in a hornet's nest."
Kimmel laughed and told him, "Generally I'd say defending Mel Gibson is not a good thing to do in any way. I think I understand what you were trying to get at, though. You were talking about people being hypocrites. People love to jump up on their soapboxes and take shots at people for saying something, when you know a lot of those people—not all of them, certainly—are [also saying similar things]."