Scott Rudin, Amy Pascal apologize for comments made in leaked emails

Producer Scott Rudin, who’s worked on films including this year’s Top Five and The Grand Budapest Hotel, made some negative comments about Angelina Jolie (and other movie-related topics) in emails that leaked Wednesday thanks to the Sony hack—and now he’s apologizing for what he said in those emails.

“Private emails between friends and colleagues written in haste and without much thought or sensitivity, even when the content of them is meant to be in jest, can result in offense where none was intended,” he said in a statement. “I am deeply sorry and apologize for any injury they might have caused.”

Most of the leaked emails were between Rudin and Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, including one correspondence where the two joked about President Obama’s race. In that email chain, Pascal and Rudin listed movies they thought Obama would like: The Butler, Django Unchained, 12 Years a Slave, Think Like a Man—all movies starring black actors.

Pascal also released a statement Thursday: “The content of my emails to Scott were insensitive and inappropriate but are not an accurate reflection of who I am,” she said. “Although this was a private communication that was stolen, I accept full responsibility for what I wrote and apologize to everyone who was offended.”

Rudin also told The New York Times that “this is not about salacious emails being batted around by Gawker and Defamer. It’s about a criminal act, and the people behind it should be treated as nothing more nor less than criminals.”

No one yet knows who is behind the attack. The FBI is currently investigating.