Melissa McCarthy is asking for her fans’ forgiveness after she briefly promoted a charity whose leader has made anti-gay, anti-Semitic and anti-abortion comments in the past.
The 50-year-old comic star shared a short apology video to Instagram on Thursday following criticism she and HBO Max received for adding the Christian charity Exodus Cry to their 20 Days of Kindness campaign.
The campaign has been helping to raise funds for 20 different charities while also promoting Melissa’s upcoming comedy Superintelligence.
Making amends: Melissa McCarthy, 50, apologized on Thursday for accidentally including a charity with an anti-gay, anti-Semitic and anti-abortion leader for her and HBO Max’s 20 Days of Kindness campaign
‘It has come to our attention that our 20 Days of Kindness, which is a kindness hub that we started to shine a light on 20 great charities, had one in there that…there’s no other way to say it, we blew it,’ Melissa began her apology video.
‘We made a mistake and we backed a charity that upon proper vetting stands for everything that we do not,’ she continued, before thanking her fans for pointing out the true nature of Exodus Cry.
‘Because the answer is: no we do not,’ she continued. ‘We have pulled it. We are so incredibly grateful for you ringing the bell and helping us be better. We’re sorry for our mistake. Oh boy, are we are sorry for it. Can’t believe that we missed it.’
The actress also expressed her hope that accidentally supporting the right-wing Christian charity wouldn’t ‘ding’ the other organizations they were supporting, and she ended by saying, ‘Let the kindness continue.’
Saying sorry: ‘We made a mistake and we backed a charity that upon proper vetting stands for everything that we do not,’ she apologized on Instagram
Advertisements: The campaign gave $20,000 to 20 different charities and advertised them to viewers to help promote Melissa’s upcoming comedy Superintelligence
Melissa captioned her clip: ‘Thanks for helping us correct a big mistake.’
HBO was more tight-lipped in a statement sent out on Thursday: ‘We were made aware of the issues surrounding Exodus Cry and have removed them from the list of partners associated with the 20 Days of kindness campaign.’
Earlier on Thursday, The Daily Beast revealed that the organization’s CEO, Benjamin Nolot, had previously said that gay people would face ‘the flaming missiles of the Evil One,’ and that homosexuality was ‘an unspeakable offense to God.’
He has also previously made anti-Semitic comments, such as when he claimed that Adolf Hitler was a ‘hunter’ sent by God as punishment for Jews, and he referred to legalized abortion as a ‘holocaust.’
Exodus Cry presents itself as an anti-sex trafficking organization, though it has strayed into anti-pornography activism as well.
Anti-gay rhetoric: The Daily Beast revealed that Exodus Cry’s CEO Benjamin Nolot had said that gay people would face ‘the flaming missiles of the Evil One,’ and that homosexuality was ‘an unspeakable offense to God’
Offensive: He has also previously made anti-Semitic comments, such as when he claimed that Adolf Hitler was a ‘hunter’ sent by God as punishment for Jews, and he referred to legalized abortion as a ‘holocaust’
Star power: In addition to starring Corden, who voices the AI and plays himself, Bobby Cannavale and Atlanta’s Brian Tyree Henry costar
As part of the promotion for her upcoming HBO Max film Superintelligence, the streaming service has been donating $20,000 to each of the 20 charities originally listed.
However, the list on the campaign’s website had been reduced to only 19 charities after Exodus Cry was removed, and it’s unclear if a new charity will take its place.
McCarthy stars in the film as Carol Peters, whose judged to be the most average person in the world by a newly sentient form of artificial intelligence.
The computerized superintelligence begins to take control of Carol’s life, with plans to do the same for the rest of humanity, leaving it up to her to save the species’ future.
In addition to starring Corden, who voices the AI and plays himself, Bobby Cannavale and Atlanta’s Brian Tyree Henry costar.
Melissa’s husband Ben Falcone directed Superintelligence, and both produced it, making it their fourth collaboration.
Superintelligence will be available to stream on HBO Max starting November 26.
Fourth time around: Melissa’s husband Ben Falcone directed Superintelligence, and both produced it, making it their fourth collaboration; shown in April 2019