TOM HANKS APOLOGISES FOR MORMON SLUR

Hollywood actor Tom Hanks has apologised for calling Mormons ‘un-American’ for their support of the Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage.

Hanks made the comment earlier this month at the season premiere party for Big Love, a television show about a Mormon family, which he executive produces.

“…the truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen,” he said adding, “There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American and I am one of them. I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper…”

Proposition 8 was a measure put to Californian voters last year which banned same-sex marriage in that state.

It has been reported that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as Mormons, contributed millions of dollars to promote the measure.

Now Hanks has released a statement backtracking on his comment.

While still making his opposition to Proposition 8 clear, he said that “…everyone has a right to vote their conscience – nothing could be more American.”

He added: “No one should use ‘un-American’ lightly or in haste. I did. I should not have.”