Tim Allen saying being a conservative in Hollywood is like living in Nazi Germany is causing outrage, with the Anne Frank Centre calling for an official apology.
The Home Improvement star grunted the comment on Jimmy Kimmel Live over the weekend after being asked about attending Donald Trump's inauguration as US president.
Allen was joking around when he said he could get "beat up" for not believing what "everybody believes", but his quip about the situation being like "like 30s Germany" that caused offence.
"Tim, have you lost your mind?" asked Steven Goldstein, executive director of the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect.
"No one in Hollywood today is subjecting you or anyone else to what the Nazis imposed on Jews in the 1930s, the world's most evil program of dehumanisation, imprisonment and mass brutality, implemented by an entire national government, as the prelude for the genocide of nearly an entire people. Sorry, Tim, that's just not the same as getting turned down for a movie role."
Following the statement on the centre's Facebook page, more have been made revealing anti-Semitic abuse sent by alleged Allen fans and again asking the actor to respond.
"From the time we called out [Allen] for comparing Hollywood to 1930s Nazi Germany, we have received in his defence more than 500 emails filled with some of the most vicious anti-Semitism we've ever seen," says the latest statement.
Addressing the 'Tool Man' directly, Mr Goldstein asks: "Will you now speak out against the anti-Semitism that affects the nation? Or will you remain silent and let your comments continue to do public harm?"
Allen has yet to respond to the requests, although did publish a photo on Twitter of he and Kimmel having a laugh together.
Newshub.
