Jerry Lewis has issued a public apology after dropping the term ‘Illiterate Faggots’ during his annual Labor Day Monday’s MDA Telethon.

“I apologize to anyone who was offended. Everyone who knows me understands that I hold no prejudices in this regard. In the family atmosphere of the telethon, I forget that not everyone knows me that well. That something like this would distract from the true purpose of the telethon pains me deeply. … I accept responsibility for what I said. There are no excuses.”

The 42nd Annual Labor Day Telethon took in aa record-setting $63.7 million in donations and pledges.