Now is really not the time, Russell.

Speaking at Wednesday night’s Aactas, the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts awards, in Sydney, Crowe told an anecdote from the set of Romper Stomper.

The movie was made in 1992, and that’s probably where Crowe’s joke should have remained. The film and TV industry audience present at the awards responded with a mixture of laughs and cringes, and the condemnation soon followed.

We’ll start with the audio of the story he told about a scene with co-star Jacqui McKenzie:

NME with the fallout:

Crowe’s comments were criticised for being “tone deaf” in the current climate and following a series of sexual misconduct allegations in Hollywood.

Crowe has since apologised for his remarks, saying in a statement: “Actors and actresses by the nature of our job get thrown into some embarrassing, bizarre and extreme circumstances. It’s an ironic combination that sensitivity required for the job has also to be coupled with an ability to put aside your embarrassment and fears and cope with the humiliation.”

“Jacquie and I survived that moment in our young careers because we looked after each other. Our friendship has only strengthened over the years and it’s a story we both cringe and laugh over. The way I delivered the story was to elicit that half cringe/half laugh reaction. Obviously I was only intending to make people laugh. Especially Jacquie, and she did.”

Crowe added: “I didn’t mean any offence to anyone and it wasn’t a comment on other issues.”

His full statement was sent out via a tweet, which you can read HERE.

Jacqui McKenzie took to Facebook to respond:

It’s just not a joke that you want to be cracking at this point in time, man.

Talking about TIME, they named the #MeToo Silence Breakers as their ‘Person of the Year’.

[source:nme]