Rodman apologizes for Bae comments

Published 1:37 am Thursday, January 9, 2014

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — Dennis Rodman has apologized for comments about captive American missionary Kenneth Bae in an interview with CNN.

A day after the former basketball star sang “Happy Birthday” to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and led a squad of former NBA players in a friendly game, Rodman issued the apology Thursday through publicist Jules Feiler in an email message to The Associated Press.

In the statement, Rodman said: “I want to apologize. I take full responsibility for my actions. It had been a very stressful day. … I had been drinking. … I want to first apologize to Kenneth Bae’s family. … I embarrassed a lot of people. I’m very sorry.”

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Rodman has been slammed for not using his influence with Kim to help free Bae, the missionary in poor health who is being confined in the North for “anti-state” crimes. On CNN on Tuesday, Rodman implied Bae was at fault.