The Anti-Defamation League released a statement Wednesday saying it accepts Will Smith's explanation that he never praised Adolf Hitler in remarks the star says were misinterpreted, reports the Associated Press.
"We welcome and accept Will Smith's statement that Hitler was a `vicious killer' and that he did not mean for his remarks about the Nazi leader to be mistaken as praise," Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement. Smith "took immediate steps to clarify his words" and condemn Hitler, Foxman said.
Foxman said words "can be twisted by those with hate and bigotry in their hearts."
"This is why all celebrities bear a special responsibility to weigh their words carefully, and an obligation to speak out against racism and bigotry whenever even a whiff of it appears, as Will Smith has done in this instance," he said.
Scottish newspaper The Daily Record recently quoted Smith as saying: "Even Hitler didn't wake up going, `let me do the most evil thing I can do today.' I think he woke up in the morning and using a twisted, backwards logic, he set out to do what he thought was `good.'"
Preceding the quote was the writer's observation: "Remarkably, Will believes everyone is basically good." The quote was picked up by gossip sites and blogs earlier this week, with headlines suggesting that Smith believed Hitler was a good person.
In a statement Monday, Smith called that "an awful and disgusting lie," and said he was furious about his remarks being misinterpreted.
"Adolf Hitler was a vile, heinous vicious killer responsible for one of the greatest acts of evil committed on this planet," the statement said.
Meanwhile, Smith's sci-fi thriller "I Am Legend" may have slipped to No. 2 at the U.S. box office behind "National Treasure" last weekend, but the film is dominating overseas with $25.3 million in 15 markets.
"I Am Legend" launched in France with $7.6 million, taking 44% of the market; and in Spain with $5.8 million, or 45% of the market and more than double the "National Treasure" debut, according to reports. "Legend" also opened at No. 1 in Belgium and Holland with $1.3 million each.
The film has already raked in $54.3 million internationally, solidifying Smith's status as a worldwide box office draw. "Legend" opened Wednesday in the U.K. for Boxing Day -- one of the top moviegoing days of the year in that market.
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