US TV chat show host, Jay Leno has made a public apology today for a joke he made with Ryan Phillipe on last week’s Tonight show.

“In talking about Ryan’s first role, I realise that what I said came out wrong,” Jay said in a statement to People.com. “I certainly didn’t mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say, and I apologise.”

Last week, the 57-year-old talk show host asked the actor: “Can you give me your ‘gayest look’?” (Ryan’s first role was as a gay character on a soap opera).

However, Ryan refused saying: “That is so something I don’t want to do.”

The gay rights group GLAAD condemned Jay’s remarks.

“We are proud of Ryan for refusing to participate in Leno’s thoughtless attempt at humour,” said GLAAD president Neil G Giuliano. “Under the guise of comedy, the talk-show host is demonstrating a lack of respect for the gay community and insensitivity to both his co-workers and the audience, to whom he owes an apology.”