Photo: Justin Baker/FilmMagic
Israel Broussard is apologizing to fans for a series of “inappropriate and insensitive” tweets from his past.
The 24-year-old actor — who is currently starring in the hit new Netflix film,To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before— allegedly sent a series of problematic tweets in the past.
According to screenshotsshared on Twitter, Broussard had written critical things aboutAfrican Americans participating in the Black Lives Matter movement, had madehomophobic remarks about potentially playing a gay characterone day, and had allegedly liked a series of anti-Muslim tweets, as well as one message that claimedthe Sandy Hook massacre was “staged”to “traumatize” and “disarm the public.”
He hadeven allegedly made a harmful joke about Japanese people— one especially upsetting to fans asTo All the Boys I’ve Loved Beforefeatures an Asian American actress as the romantic lead.
Netflix
Broussard has since deleted the questionable tweets. On Tuesday, he issued an apology.
“I am deeply sorry for my inappropriate and insensitive words and likes on social media. I take full responsibility for my actions and I sincerely apologize,” he wrote. “This has been a pivotal life lesson for me. I am dedicated to becoming a more informed and educated version of myself.”
This isn’t the first time a celebrity’s past Twitter behavior has gotten them in trouble.
BachelorettewinnerGarrett Yrigoyencame under fire forliking several hateful and transphobic memeson Instagram just days after the season premiered, later deleting his accountand apologizing.
“I didn’t mean to offend anyone,” he told PEOPLE. “Just because I liked it, doesn’t necessarily mean that I supported it. I was raised in a very open-minded family that was accepting to everybody. We’re very non-judgmental. I’m genuinely sincere.”
In July,Disney dropped director James Gunn from the upcoming thirdGuardians of the Galaxyinstallmentafter years of old tweets of his resurfaced, some of which included jokes about pedophilia and rape.
Gunn addressed the controversy, explaining that it used to be part of his act to tweet things that would outrage people but that he has since grown as a person. “In the past, I have apologized for humor of mine that hurt people,” he said. “I truly felt sorry and meant every word of my apologies.”
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Josh Hader, 24, also apologized whena series of racist, sexist, and homophobic tweets he sent as a teenager surfaced— though in his case, Major League Baseball decided not to suspend him, and instead send him to sensitivity training and have him join initiatives focused on diversity and inclusion.
“There’s no excuse for what was said. I’m deeply sorry for what I said and what’s been going on,” Hader said. “You know, it was something that happened when I was 17 years old,” Hader continued. “As a child, I was immature, and I obviously said some things that were inexcusable. That doesn’t reflect on who I am as a person today and that’s just what it is… When you’re a kid you just tweet what’s on your mind, and that’s what was going on.”
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Beforeis streaming on Netflix now.
source: people.com
