Rodman sorry for comments on detained American
11 Jan 2014 5:00 AM IST
Dennis Rodman apologized on Thursday for comments about captive American missionary Kenneth Bae in an interview with CNN.
A day after the former basketball star sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and led a squad of former NBA players in a friendly game, Rodman issued the apology through publicist Jules Feiler in an email message.
‘I want to apologize,’ Rodman said. ‘I take full responsibility for my actions. It had been a very stressful day. Some of my teammates were leaving because of pressure from their families and business associates.’
‘My dreams of basketball diplomacy was quickly falling apart. I had been drinking. It’s not an excuse but by the time the interview happened I was upset. I was overwhelmed. It’s not an excuse, it’s just the truth.
‘I want to first apologize to Kenneth Bae’s family. I want to apologize to my teammates and my management team.’
‘I also want to apologize to Chris Cuomo. I embarrassed a lot of people. I’m very sorry. At this point I should know better than to make political statements. I’m truly sorry.’
Rodman has been slammed for not using his influence with Kim to help free Bae, the missionary in poor health who is being confined in the North for ‘anti-state’ crimes. On CNN on Tuesday, Rodman implied Bae was at fault.
Bae’s sister, Terri Chung, said his family couldn’t believe what Rodman said.
A day after the former basketball star sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and led a squad of former NBA players in a friendly game, Rodman issued the apology through publicist Jules Feiler in an email message.
‘I want to apologize,’ Rodman said. ‘I take full responsibility for my actions. It had been a very stressful day. Some of my teammates were leaving because of pressure from their families and business associates.’
‘My dreams of basketball diplomacy was quickly falling apart. I had been drinking. It’s not an excuse but by the time the interview happened I was upset. I was overwhelmed. It’s not an excuse, it’s just the truth.
‘I want to first apologize to Kenneth Bae’s family. I want to apologize to my teammates and my management team.’
‘I also want to apologize to Chris Cuomo. I embarrassed a lot of people. I’m very sorry. At this point I should know better than to make political statements. I’m truly sorry.’
Rodman has been slammed for not using his influence with Kim to help free Bae, the missionary in poor health who is being confined in the North for ‘anti-state’ crimes. On CNN on Tuesday, Rodman implied Bae was at fault.
Bae’s sister, Terri Chung, said his family couldn’t believe what Rodman said.
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