X-Men’s Ian McKellen Is Sorry He Said Bryan Singer’s Alleged Abuse Was Because He Was Closeted

Ian McKellen has issued an apology regarding his recent controversial comments which suggested X-Men director Bryan Singer and actor Kevin Spacey committed the sexual misconducts they have been accused of due to the fact they were both in the closet.

Earlier this week, Ian McKellen commented on the sexual misconduct allegations against Bryan Singer and Kevin Spacey, saying that alleged abuse committed by the X-Men director and actor occurred due to the fact that they were not open about their sexuality:

“With the couple of names you’ve mentioned, people I’ve worked with, both of them were in the closet. And hence all their problems as people and their relationships with other people, if they had been able to be open about themselves and their desires, they wouldn’t have started abusing people in the way they’ve been accused.”

The X-Men star who brought to life Magneto on the big screen in Bryan Singer’s 2000 film is now apologizing for his controversial remarks:

“As part of an extended podcast recently, I suggested that if closeted people were instead open about their sexuality they wouldn’t abuse others. That, of course, is wrong.”

Ian McKellen went on to express his regret and to add that encourage the LGBT community to be proud of and express their sexuality:

“My intention was to encourage the LGBT audience I was addressing to be proud and open about their sexuality. In doing so, my point was clumsily expressed. I would never, ever trivialize or condone abuse of any kind. I deeply regret my careless remarks and apologize unreservedly for any distress I caused.”

X-Men: Dark Phoenix is directed by Simon Kinberg and stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Alexandra Shipp, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Evan Peters, and Jessica Chastain.

“In DARK PHOENIX, the X-MEN face their most formidable and powerful foe: one of their own, Jean Grey. During a rescue mission in space, Jean is nearly killed when she is hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. Wrestling with this entity inside her, Jean unleashes her powers in ways she can neither comprehend nor contain. With Jean spiraling out of control, and hurting the ones she loves most, she begins to unravel the very fabric that holds the X-Men together. Now, with this family falling apart, they must find a way to unite — not only to save Jean’s soul, but to save our very planet from aliens who wish to weaponize this force and rule the galaxy.”

The film is set to hit theaters on June 7, 2019.

Source: ET