Jason Alexander apologizes for calling cricket (the game) 'gay'

"Not that there's anything wrong with that!"

That was the famous catch phrase spawned by Jerry and George (played by Jerry Seinfeld and Jason Alexander) on an episode of 'Seinfeld' when they were denying that they were a gay couple.

Now Alexander is having to apologize for calling the sport of cricket "gay" on a talk show.

Alexander called the popular British sport a "gay game" Friday on the "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson."

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"It's the pitch It's the weirdest... It's not like a manly baseball pitch," Alexander said. "It's a queer, British gay pitch."

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) was not amused, and neither were many people who tweeted Alexander their distaste.

The actor soon released a statement to GLAAD, explaining that the joke had been part of his stand-up routine years ago. He also said that after receiving the barrage of tweets, he still "truly did not understand why a gay person would be particularly offended by this routine."

Alexander said it was only after talking to friends and dissecting the joke and its implications that he came to understand the error of his ways.

"I should know better. My daily life is filled with gay men and women, both socially and professionally. I am profoundly aware of the challenges these friends of mine face and I have openly advocated on their behalf...." he wrote in part. "I can only apologize and I do. In comedy, timing is everything. And when a group of people are still fighting so hard for understanding, acceptance, dignity and essential rights—the time for some kinds of laughs has not yet come. I hope my realization brings some comfort."

Comedian Vince Vaughn was came under similar fire a couple of years ago when his character called electric cars "gay" in the trailer for his film "The Dilemma."

"Let me add my voice of support to the people outraged by the bullying and persecution of people for their differences, whatever those differences may be," Vaughn said in 2010. "Comedy and joking about our differences breaks tension and brings us together. Drawing dividing lines over what we can and cannot joke about does exactly that; it divides us. Most importantly, where does it stop."

GLAAD did not agree.

"Vince is right. Comedy does bring us together, unless one of us is the punch line,” GLAAD said on its website. “Then it pushes us apart."