Celebrity

Following massive backlash he received after posting a controversial tweet about 'stereotyping Ahmed,' the 'Arrow' star says, '[I] didn't mean to offend anyone today.'

• Sep 17, 2015

AceShowbiz - Stephen Amell took to Twitter and Facebook to clarify his controversial comment on Ahmed Mohamed, a 14-year-old student in Texas who was arrested by police after his homemade clock was mistakenly thought as a bomb. The "Arrow" actor said that he didn't mean to offend anyone with his comment.

Ahmed was arrested after his teacher thought the homemade clock he brought to school was a bomb. Some people claimed that the detention was due to his Muslim background. People, then, said it was a "systemic problem" in Texas. Stephen quickly reacted to the comment on the state by tweeting, "Stereotyping Texas isn't any better than stereotyping Ahmed. Just so we're clear."

Stephen's controversial tweet soon sparked Twitter outcry. Nevertheless, just hours after his comment, the actor clarified his comment in a series of tweets. "I can't believe I broke my rule and tweeted about an actual event. Staggering to remember that debates in 140 characters don't work," he said. "What happened to Ahmed was terrible. Obviously."

The 34-year-old actor made it clear that he just didn't want people to stereotype Texas and its people. "I happened to read a series of tweets pronouncing that this is a systemic problem in Texas, which is also profiling," he continued. "It's profiling in a much less hurtful / destructive way... but it is profiling."

However, Stephen said he wouldn't remove his tweet. "[Anyhow], I'm not apologizing or deleting the tweets. If you're outraged at an opinion it's because you're bored," he explained. "My wife is from Texas, I have extended family in Texas, and I've met thousands of Texans that are wonderful, polite individuals." He concluded his tweets as saying, "Last thing: Ahmed's White House visit will be an awesome, awesome moment."

Following the tweets, Stephen posted a video on Facebook to come clean about his comment. "[I] didn't mean to offend anyone today. [I] wasn't trying to equate things that are very, very different. [I] was subtly trying to say that two wrongs don't make a right," he said.

The actor went on admitting that he might offend people with his comment. "I think I did offend people. The best thing to do in these scenarios is just go away for a little bit," he continued. "So be well. I'll be back. And that's it."