Joe Francis Sorry He Called Jury ‘Retarded’


Joe Francis is sorry for using the word “retarded” when referring to the jury that convicted him of assaulting and falsely imprisoning three women in his Hollywood home in 2011.

Joe Francis was accused of misleading female friends who believed they were getting a ride home. Instead Francis took them to his house, where he got into a physical altercation with them. Francis was convicted after a two-week trial.

The Girls Gone Wild founder took a combative tone after his conviction, criticizing the jury for finding him guilty while vigorously maintaining his innocence.

In a statement to E! News, Francis stressed that he is innocent.

“I have done NOTHING wrong! This is a total joke! It did not happen and that mentally challenged jury should be put in jail!”

He also used other, saltier language when describing the jury. But now Joe Francis is backing off from his “retarded” comment, issuing a long-winded apology and calling his remarks “appalling.”

Francis said:

“I deeply regret the remarks attributed to me in the interview with the Hollywood Reporter. They were hurtful and do not reflect my true feelings. While I disagree with the jury’s verdict as I am completely innocent of the charges and intend to appeal, I was afforded a fair trial, and if I lose at the appellate level, I will reluctantly but fully accept the jury’s verdict. This was a 6 hour interview with the Hollywood reporter where I detailed to the reporter all of the evidence and why I believed the evidence showed I am 100% innocent.”

But Joe Francis remained feisty, even as he apologized for the “retarded” comment:

“The reporter also interviewed my attorney David Houston for over 3 hours, but failed to include one shred of evidence from the trial that proved beyond a reasonable doubt my innocence. I did NOT commit a crime at all whatsoever. All that was publicized were my most intemperate remarks that were borne out of frustration but with no intent to cause anyone harm. I am not, nor have I ever been a violent person. My comments are appalling, but anyone who has ever been wrongfully convicted of a crime that they did NOT commit would be as frustrated as I am. I want to apologize to all the jurors, the court, the City Attorney and my attorneys for my comments that were manipulated by the media, and please know I am truly ashamed of my conduct. I am truly, truly sorry. I hope everyone will understand I was not being serious and that I fully and deeply apologize for my remarks.”

Joe Francis didn’t just call the jury “retarded.” He also said they should be lined up and shot.

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