Hank Williams Jr. apologized Tuesday for controversial remarks he made comparing President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler. Williams called his statement "dumb" in a message posted on his official website.
Williams, the country star behind ESPN's "Monday Night Football" theme song, made his inflammatory comments Monday morning on Fox News' "Fox & Friends." HuffPost previously reported on Williams' TV appearance:
He [Williams] got right into it, telling the hosts that he didn't like any of the candidates in the GOP primary for President, and that John Boehner's golf game with Barack Obama was a major mistake.
"That would be like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu. Not hardly. In the shape this country is in?"
When Brian Kilmeade said that he didn't understand the analogy, Williams was non-plussed. "I'm glad you don't brother, because a lot of people do. They're the enemy... Obama! And Biden! Are you kidding? The Three Stooges."
ESPN pulled Williams from its "Monday Night Football" introduction following the appearance. In an official statement, ESPN wrote:
"While Hank Williams, Jr. is not an ESPN employee, we recognize that he is closely linked to our company through the open to Monday Night Football. We are extremely disappointed with his comments, and as a result we have decided to pull the open from tonight's telecast."
Williams clarified his comments later on Monday, saying that his "analogy was extreme - but it was to make a point," and that he has "always respected the office of the President."
The singer's full apology from Tuesday, entitled "THANKS TO MY SUPPORTERS," can be found below (via his official website):
"I have always been very passionate about Politics and Sports and this time it got the Best or Worst of me. The thought of the Leaders of both Parties Jukin and High Fiven on a Golf course, while so many Families are Struggling to get by simply made me Boil over and make a Dumb statement and I am very Sorry if it Offended anyone. I would like to Thank all my supporters. This was Not written by some Publicist." -- Hank Williams Jr