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'Bachelor' Juan Pablo apologizes for anti-gay remarks, blames language barrier

"Bachelor" Juan Pablo Galavis has apologized after his comments on whether the ABC reality show should do a season featuring a non-heterosexual bachelor were published Friday."I want to apologize to all the people I may have offended because of my comments on having a gay or bisexual Bachelor," he wrote on his Facebook page. "That comment was taken out of context. If you listen to the entire inter
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Juan Pablo Galavis.Noel Vasquez / Getty Images

"Bachelor" Juan Pablo Galavis has apologized after his comments on whether the ABC reality show should do a season featuring a non-heterosexual bachelor were published Friday.

"I want to apologize to all the people I may have offended because of my comments on having a gay or bisexual Bachelor," he wrote on his Facebook page. "That comment was taken out of context. If you listen to the entire interview, there's nothing but respect for gay people and their families."

Galavis, a former Venezuelan soccer star, gave his original quotes to The TV Page.

"I don't think it is a good example for kids to watch (gay relationships) on TV," Galavis told the website. 

He continued, "Obviously people have their husband and wife and kids and that is how we are brought up. Now there is fathers having kids and all that, and it is hard for me to understand that too in the sense of a household having peoples. ... Two parents sleeping in the same bed and the kid going into bed. ... It is confusing in a sense. But I respect them because they want to have kids. They want to be parents. So it is a scale. ... Where do you put it on the scale? Where is the thin line to cross or not? You have to respect everybody’s desires and way of living. But it would be too hard for TV."

The TV Page indicated that Galavis accused gay people of being "more pervert in a sense."

In a joint statement, ABC, "The Bachelor" producers and Warner Horizon Television said: "Juan Pablo’s comments were careless, thoughtless and insensitive, and in no way reflect the views of the network, the show’s producers or studio." Fans and celebrities also weighed in on Twitter:

“Bachelor”+star+Juan+Pablo+Galavis+said+gays+shouldn’t+be+on+the+show.+It’d+disrupt+the+sanctity+of+falling+in+love+on+TV+for+money.

—+Exploding+Unicorn+(@XplodingUnicorn)+January+20,+2014+

Bachelor+Mondays+are+canceled+now+in+the+Rossum+household.+#thebachelor

—+Emmy+Rossum+(@emmyrossum)+January+18,+2014+

Wasn't+that+into+this+season+of+#thebachelor+anyways...

—+Sarah+Hyland+(@Sarah_Hyland)+January+18,+2014+

Lesson:+some+of+the+people+who+give+you+free+chocolate+turn+out+to+be+homophobes:(

—+Lena+Dunham+(@lenadunham)+January+19,+2014+

But the reality star insisted on Facebook that it all came down to the fact that he wasn't fluent in English. 

He also noted on Twitter:

I+WONDER+how+many+people+UPSET/DISSAPOINTED+at+me+SPEAKS+another+LANGUAGE...

—+Juan+Pablo+Galavis™+(@JuanPaGalavis)+January+19,+2014+

TODAY offered Galvais an opportunity to clear the air in an interview in which he could speak Spanish but an ABC spokesman said he is not doing interviews at this time.

But further apologetic comments have now appeared on GLAAD's website, with Galavis saying in part, "Gay and lesbian people, and the children they are raising, wrongfully face discrimination and I want them to know that I'm on their side." 

GLAAD indicated Galavis would be meeting with LGBT Latinos and their families later this week.

Last December, "Duck Dynasty" and star Phil Robertson experienced a similar controversy after his anti-gay statements were printed in GQ magazine. When the show returned this month for its fifth season, ratings had dropped considerably.