Dennis Rodman apologized Thursday for his inflammatory statements against Kenneth Bae, an American citizen who has been locked up in North Korea for almost two years, CNN reported.
The former NBA player, who is reportedly friends with Kim Jong Un, is currently in North Korea for what he calls "basketball diplomacy." During a Tuesday interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo, Rodman suggested that Bae's sentence, 15 years of labor, is justified.
Bae's family was outraged by the basketball star's comments, saying in a statement that Rodman chose to insult Bae instead of using his influence on North Korea's leader to help free him, CNN reported.
"I want to first apologize to Kenneth Bae's family," the 52-year-old said in a released a statement though his publicist Jules Feiler. "I want to apologize to my teammates and my management team. I also want to apologize to Chris Cuomo."
The Tuesday interview with Cuomo became intense when Rodman was asked if he would advocate for Bae's release.
"If you understand- if you understand what Kenneth Bae did. Do you understand what he did? In this country?" Rodman told Cuomo.
"I embarrassed a lot of people," Rodman said in his Thursday statement, according to CNN. "I'm very sorry. At this point I should know better than to make political statements. I'm truly sorry."
Rodman and other former NBA members played a basketball game against North Korea's national team on Wednesday. Right before the game Rodman sang "Happy Birthday" to Kim Jon Un, said to be 31 years old, in front of a stadium full of 14,000 people.
Rodman said he was going through a rough period and was intoxicated when he made the fiery comments, CNN reported.
"Some of my teammates were leaving because of pressure from their families and business associates," Rodman said in his statement, CNN reported.
Rodman also said his mission of "basketball diplomacy was quickly falling apart."
"I had been drinking," Rodman said, CNN reported. "It's not an excuse but by the time the interview happened I was upset. I was overwhelmed."
