Howie Mandel has apologized twice for making light of bulimia, a serious eating disorder, during the live broadcast of "America's Got Talent" on Tuesday night.
"America's Got Talent" performer Stevie Starr, who is a "professional regurgitator," impressed Mandel with his ability to swallow random objects and bring them back up in one piece.
"You, sir, make bulimia entertaining," the 59-year-old judge said. He even prefaced it by saying, "This is probably going to come out wrong."
Starr chuckled, but "AGT" Nick Cannon responded, "I don't think that's what he was going for."
Mandel, who struggles with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), took a moment to apologize on camera later in the broadcast.
"I just wanna take a second just to apologize. I made a comment earlier, it's live television. I wasn't thinking," he said. "I made light of bulimia, which is a very serious eating disorder and mental health issue. I deal with mental health all the time, and I did something stupid. I should never make light of it. I apologize to anybody that was offended. I'm not perfect, I make mistakes."
To emphasize his regret, he tweeted another apology before the show came down.
I am NOT perfect. I make mistakes. I sincerely apologize to everyone who was offended.
— Howie Mandel (@howiemandel) August 26, 2015
Mandel has served as a "America's Got Talent" judge since 2010 and is in his sixth season.
