Matt Damon has apologized for comments he made last month about sexual misconduct in Hollywood when he suggested that sexual harassment shouldn't be viewed with the same level of severity as sexual assault.

The remarks were made by the Oscar-winning actor during an appearance on ABC News' "Popcorn with Peter Travers."

“There’s a difference between, you know, patting someone on the butt and rape or child molestation, right?” Damon told Travers. “Both of those behaviors need to be confronted and eradicated, without question, but they shouldn’t be conflated, right?”

The comments drew immediate criticism, including from actress and ex-girlfriend Minnie Driver.

On Tuesday, Damon attempted to set things right during an appearance on the Today show.

“I really wish I’d listened a lot more before I weighed in on this,” Damon told host Kathie Lee Gifford. “Ultimately what it is for me is that I don’t want to further anybody’s pain. With anything that I do or say, so for that I’m really sorry.”

“And Time’s Up, a lot of those women are my dear friends," added Damon. "And I love them and respect them and support what they’re doing and want to be a part of that change and want to go along for the ride, but I should get in the back seat and close my mouth for a while.”

Source: people.com