Robert De Niro found himself in hot water after cracking wise on Monday night during a New York fundraising event attended by Michelle Obama.
After being lambasted by the media, De Niro released a statement to the AP: “My remarks, although spoken with satirical jest, were not meant to offend or embarrass anyone — especially the first lady.”
The actor opened his remarks the other night with, “Callista Gingrich, Karen Santorum Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?” The crowd roared and he interjected the punchline, “Too soon, right?”
Turns out Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich wasn’t happy and the White House shuddered too.
Gingrich jumped all over the remark on Tuesday morning, “What De Niro said last night was inexcusable and the president should apologize for him. It was at an Obama fundraiser, it is exactly wrong.”
Michelle Obama’s press secretary Olivia Alair tried to quiet the negative rhetoric with an acknowledgement that the joke was “inappropriate.”
Check out a CNN video report below:
Photo: Video Screen Grab