Israel Broussard, the actor from “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” apologized in a statement Tuesday night for having written racially insensitive messages on Twitter.
"I am deeply sorry for my inappropriate and insensitive words and likes on social media," the actor wrote on Twitter. "I take full responsibility for my actions and I sincerely apologize."
Broussard plays Josh Sanderson, the boy-next-door and one of the main love interests of protagonist Lara Jean in “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” the highly anticipated Netflix film based on the young adult book from author Jenny Han.
The film premiered on the streaming service Friday, and Broussard's previous activity on Twitter resurfaced over the weekend. Critics said Broussard has made anti-Asian statements. In one July 2011 tweet, he wrote, "Dogs can sense earthquakes. Too bad Japan ate them all." The tweet came days after a 7.0 aftershock of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that killed at least 15,000.
In other tweets, he appears to disparage the Black Lives Matter movement and signal discomfort with playing a gay character.
Some critics noted that his tweets were particularly disappointing given his role in a film with an Asian-American female lead.
Netflix, Awesomeness Films — which produced the film — and representatives of Broussard did not respond Wednesday to requests for comment.
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