Terry Crews Apologizes for Saying Kids of Gay Parents are 'Severely Malnourished' from Love

After a backlash, actor Terry Crews is apologizing for tweeting that children of same-sex parents are "severely malnourished" for love, The Huffington Post reports.

Taking to Twitter Sunday, the "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star apologized for his now-deleted tweets regarding same-sex parents that he fired off on Saturday.

"It was the wrong choice of words in response to another tweet. I apologize," Crews wrote.

The actor's comments come after a New York Times op-ed piece written by human rights lawyer Derecka Purnell called "Why Does Obama Scold Black Boys?" In her article, she says former President Barack Obama spends too much time "finger-wagging" black boys instead of encouraging them to fight against the systems that press them.

Crews questioned if Purnell, as a woman, had the right to weigh in on how to raise "successful young men," according to HuffPo.

"How would she know?" he tweeted. "You can speak with us? just not FOR US. There is a big difference."

As the conversation continued with others tweeting about Crews' comments, including Purnell, who defended herself, the actor stood by his comments. The conversation went to the roles mothers and fathers play in their children's lives.

"Same-sex couples and single parents can successfully raise a child," Crews wrote in his now-deleted tweet Saturday. "But I believe paternal AND maternal love are like vitamins and minerals to humanity. No matter where you get that paternal and maternal love. MY purpose is to give paternal love."

A Twitter user responded, saying, "Love is not gendered. A child will not starve with only one gender loving them."

Crews wrote: "But they will be severely malnourished."

Crews has been one of the most prominent male activists in the #MeToo movement, after coming forward about his own sexual assault.

This isn't the first time the actor has come under fire for his remarks about the LGBTQ community. HuffPo points out in July 2018, Crews said he was still "learning and reflecting" after facing a backlash over comments people deemed transphobic.