Anthony Anderson claims he was just kidding around when he told an underage Lindsay Lohan he “likes them young.”
“This interview was clearly intended as comedy,” a rep for the comedian told Entertainment Weekly Friday in response to a resurfaced clip of Anderson interviewing Lohan on “The Sharon Osbourne Show” in December 2003 when he was asked to fill in.
The spokesperson continued, “He regrets if the humor was in poor taste and maintains the utmost respect for Lindsay. Any implication to the contrary is both inaccurate and potentially defamatory.”
Page Six has reached out to Anderson’s rep for further comment but has not heard back.
In the resurfaced clip, the “Black-ish” alum asked the “Freaky Friday” star about what it was like being roommates with Raven-Symoné at the time.
He began with a compliment, stating they are “both beautiful women” and wondered how they would compromise on decorating the home.
Lohan explained at the time that she was much more into the color pink than the “Cosby Show” alum, so that wouldn’t be an issue, but then Anderson asked, “What gentleman will be at the new pad?”
“No one,” the “Parent Trap” star immediately responded, nodding her head. “No, I don’t have a boyfriend.”
Anderson then leaned in and shouted to the audience, “Hmmm. She’s single! But looking.”
However, Lohan clarified, “I’m illegal for people that are old,” prompting the “Guys With Kids” star to reply, “Well, you know some men like them young. We ain’t gonna mention no names but, you know, I’m one of them.” The then-33year-old erupted into laughter but the audience was noticeably not as enthused.
One person on social media expressed dismay over the comment, writing, “He actually said that out loud.”
Another asked, “Is it a rule that to be successful in Hollywood you have to be a complete creep?”
A third social media user pointed out Anderson’s history of sexual assault allegations, asking, “How does he still have a career?????”
In 2018, the Los Angeles Police probed the “Barbershop” star for allegedly assaulting a woman at an event she catered. However, his rep said at the time, “Anthony unequivocally disputes the claim.”
Anderson and assistant director Wayne Witherspoon were previously also accused of raping an extra on the set of the 2004 film “Hustle & Flow,” but the charges were dropped when the judge ruled that there was no probable cause to try the case.
A rep for Lohan, now 39, could not immediately be reached for comment.
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