More than 20 years later, Anthony Anderson is answering for a 2003 interview with a then underaged Lindsay Lohan that has not aged well.
After a clip of the 2x Golden Globe nominee guest hosting an episode of The Sharon Osbourne Show went viral, his rep responded to comments about the inappropriate nature of Anderson’s interview with the 17-year old actress, who was promoting Freaky Friday.
“This interview was clearly intended as comedy,” Anderson’s rep said in a statement to People. “He regrets if the humor was in poor taste and maintains the utmost respect for Lindsay. Any implication to the contrary is both inaccurate and potentially defamatory.”
In the resurfaced clip, Anderson noted that he and his kids loved Lohan in The Parent Trap (1998). “You’ve grown up a whole lot since then,” he told her with his hand on her knee.
After Anderson later noted that Lohan is “single but looking,” Lohan quipped, “But I’m illegal for people that are old.”
“Well, you know, some men like ’em young,” Anderson replied. “We ain’t gonna mention no names, but, you know, I’m one of ’em.”
Anderson has been accused of sexual assault on three different occasions, but has never been charged and has denied the allegations.
The interview has recently gone viral as Lohan reunites with co-star Jamie Lee Curtis for Freakier Friday, the sequel to their 2003 Disney film, which premieres Aug. 8 in theaters.
