Joe Francis apologizes for ‘retarded’ jury remarks, plans appeal

“Girls Gone Wild” founder Joe Francis has apologized for calling the jury that found him guilty “retarded.”

Francis, who was recently found guilty of imprisoning three women in his home, issued an apology on the heels of an interview published by The Hollywood Reporter that quoted him as saying his jurors were “mentally … retarded” and “should be euthanized.”

“Only the stupidest of the stupidest people end up on juries, you know? I’ve never met a smart person who’s done jury duty,” he said in the article.

But now he’s singing a different tune, apologizing to the jury, court, city attorney and his attorneys for the harsh comments and still maintaining his innocence. He instead blames reporter Stephen Galloway for selecting only his “intemperate remarks” and the media for “manipulating” his comments.

“I deeply regret the remarks attributed to me in the interview with the Hollywood Reporter,” Francis said in a statement Wednesday. “They were hurtful and do not reflect my true feelings.