George Lucas Sorry for Those Things He Said About Star Wars Sequel

Star Wars creator George Lucas is apologizing after he compared Disney to “white slavers” and criticized The Force Awakens in an interview with CBS’ Charlie Rose. The filmmaker released a statement Thursday clarifying his comments:

“I want to clarify my interview on the Charlie Rose Show. It was for the Kennedy Center Honors and conducted prior to the premiere of the film. I misspoke and used a very inappropriate analogy, and for that I apologize. I have been working with Disney for 40 years and chose them as the custodians of Star Wars because of my great respect for the company and Bob Iger’s leadership. Disney is doing an incredible job of taking care of and expanding the franchise. I rarely go out with statements to clarify my feelings but I feel it is important to make it clear that I am thrilled that Disney has the franchise and is moving it in such exciting directions in film, television and the parks. Most of all I’m blown away with the record breaking blockbuster success of the new movie and am very proud of JJ and Kathy.”

During the interview, Lucas called The Force Awakens “retro” and spoke about what it was like when Disney bought Lucasfilm. “I sold them to the white slavers that takes these things and…” he said before laughing and cutting himself off and shifting focus to J.J. Abrams, who helmed The Force Awakens. “They wanted to do a retro movie. I don’t like that. Every movie, I work very hard to make them completely different, with different planets, with different spaceships, make it new.”

Earlier this month, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy told The Hollywood Reporter that Lucas had seen and “really liked” the latest film in the franchise.

This article was originally published at EW.com