Ben Affleck Apologizes for Requesting PBS Show Censor His Slave-Owning Ancestor

Washington Informer April 22, 2015

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Actor and director Ben Affleck poses for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "Argo" during the 37th annual Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)

(Hollywood Reporter) – Ben Affleck has responded to the controversy surrounding his episode of PBS’ Finding Your Roots.

In a Facebook post Tuesday, the actor-director wrote that he was sorry for asking the Henry Louis Gates Jr.-hosted show to censor his slave-owning ancestor from his installment, which aired Oct. 14, 2014.

“I didn’t want any television show about my family to include a guy who owned slaves,” Affleck wrote. “I was embarrassed. The very thought left a bad taste in my mouth.”

Affleck pointed out that Finding Your Roots is not a news program, but is rather a show in which guests voluntarily reveal information about their families, which can make them “quite vulnerable.” He wrote that it is assumed that the show’s producers “will respect your willingness to participate and not look to include things you think would embarrass your family.”