Russell Crowe Removes Circumcision Tweets, Apologizes if He Offended Anyone

Russell Crowe went on an anti-circumcision tirade on Twitter late Thursday and early Friday morning.

He later took his Tweets down (see screengrabs at the HuffingtonPost.com and U.K. Guardian), but they included:

- "Circumcision is barbaric and stupid. Who are you to correct nature? Is it real that GOD requires a donation of foreskin? Babies are perfect.

- When one follower wrote, "There's actually a scientific reason for [circumcision], u should google it," Crowe replied: "My friend, 'human' science has caused too much damage, don't be a moron."

- When one follower called the practice hygenic, Crowe replied, "Hygenic? Why don't you sew up your ass then?"

- "many jewish friends, I love my Jewish friends, I love the apples and the honey and the funny little hats but stop cutting yr babies @eliroth" he wrote to his Man With an Iron Fist director. (Snapped back Roth on Twitter: "You didn't seem to be complaining when I was recutting you this afternoon…")

- "I will always stand for the perfection of babies, i will always believe in God, not man's interpretation of what God requires."

- "last of it, if u feel it is yr right 2 cut things off yr babies please unfollow and f**k off,I'll take attentive parenting over barbarism."

- One follower asked if he was "comparing sexual mutilation w/ a jewish ceremonial act?!” Crowe wrote: "Can you actually read the words you just typed 'a ceremonial act', F--- that. The Mayans had ceremonial acts too.”

- "Abortion should always be a woman's choice, there is no benefit to 'forced' motherhood...you got it? don't like it then bye."

Later, he deleted his statements, and wrote:

- "I have a deep and abiding love for all people of all nationalities, I'm very sorry that I have said things on here that have caused distress."

- "My personal beliefs aside I realize that some will interpret this debate as me mocking the rituals and traditions of others. I am very sorry."

Roth also posted Friday morning that Crowe was joking, and accused the media of "blowing the comments out of proportion."

He Twittered Friday, "#FF @russellcrowe One of the nicest people I have ever been lucky enough to meet and work with. AND RESPECTFUL OF ALL RELIGIONS."