Exclusive: Foxx responds to Obama comment backlash

Jamie Foxx is responding exclusively to ET about the furor over his comment referring to President Barack Obama as "our Lord and Savior."

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Foxx, who made the comment at the Soul Train Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday, tells ET's Nancy O'Dell in an interview at his California home that his comment was intended as a joke. "I'm a comic," Foxx says, "[and] sometimes I think people get a little too tight. And, it's getting a little tougher for us comedians [because] some people take it and want to make a huge story out of it, but it's a joke."

Some Christians blogged and tweeted that they found Foxx's comment offensive.

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Tune in to ET starting on Thursday, Nov. 29, for our multiple-part interview series with Foxx, which will include an announcement about an exciting new project that's close to his heart, as well as a tour of his home.

[Derek_Yisrael]

I wonder what his deceased pastor grandfather would have thought about his "joke"?

[Derek_Yisrael]

I wonder what his deceased pastor grandfather would have thought about his "joke"?

[MamaK59]

It wasn't funny.
He's an idiot.

[BarackHussein]

Wonder what would have happened if he joked about Islam?

[Mayusan]

What pisses me off about comics... they always hide behind comedy when the flub up so they don't have to man up and apologize. What a coward. It's OUR fault for getting mad cause he was just being funny.

1. He wasn't being funny. You're an idiot if you believe that
2. He wasn't cracking that many jokes that night... there was no reason for the joke. There was no set up, there was no punchline, no one was laughing, they were chanting and cheering.
3. grow some balls and just apologize. Joke or not... you F'ed up blaspheming like that.

[Monease]

I agree with Jamie, people needs to stop being so uptight. He was the host of the show, its their job to crack jokes on everyone and everything, nothing unfortuanately is off limits. Now his joke was tasteless, but I won't sentence the man to death, now these so called christians might, but I won't. I bet God himself got a laugh out of that one. People get over yourselves, there more important things to be worried about, like this fiscal cliff, we are heading towards... instead of a tasteless joke. I think Jesus can defend himself quite well, if need be, he doesn't need any help. Jesus, has been talked about and made fun of for centuries. He is used to people ignorance by now.

[kailumego]

"Lighten up", a cop-out, the only 'joke' is on him...He intended to get a 'rise' out of Republicans and those who voted for Mitt Romney. Him referencing Obama as "Our Lord and Savior" was intended to draw fury from these individuals, on account of the unfavorable, insidious remarks that which were made towards President Obama...And if he think by coming forward and saying it was a 'joke' is going to smooth the waters for him, well think again....

[Mayusan]

What pisses me off about comics... they always hide behind comedy when the flub up so they don't have to man up and apologize. What a coward. It's OUR fault for getting mad cause he was just being funny.

1. He wasn't being funny. You're an idiot if you believe that
2. He wasn't cracking that many jokes that night... there was no reason for the joke. There was no set up, there was no punchline, no one was laughing, they were chanting and cheering.
3. grow some balls and just apologize. Joke or not... you F'ed up blaspheming like that.

[Derek_Yisrael]

Jesus is defended by his followers. Thats apart of being a christian. Sorry if you feel its being "uptight" but its apart of being a "real" christian. Too many fake christians out here talking like they are real and mischaracterizing what God is cool with. God is not "cool" or "laughing" at any alot. Read your bible. I don't remember a sense of humor mentioned in the bible. What makes this a very serious matter is one that many black christians probably aren't aware of because they aren't encouraged to study theological history. Rome tried to force the first christians to call Caesar "Lord" and they refused and said that Jesus was "Lord and Savior". For them doing that, they were persecuted and martyred. So yes, if you are a christian it is that serious. If not, then pagans and heathens joked and mocked christ and christians for centuries and do so today saying christians are too "tight".