Russell Crowe famously sparked a heated Twitter debate in 2011 when he declared the practice of circumcision 'barbaric and stupid'.

Now, the 50-year-old antipodean actor has taken to social media once again to discourage the use of the procedure by showing his support for a mother trying to stop the circumcision of her son.

On Wednesday the Hollywood heavy weight retweeted a link by activism account Caprica Is Burning which is raising awareness and funds for Heather Hironimus who is fighting a court battle in Florida to stop her four year-old son Chase being circumcised, as reported by YouCaring.

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Russell Crowe takes to social media to support mother trying to stop circumcision of son after THAT Twitter row where he called the procedure 'barbaric and stupid', pictured in at Noah premiere in Paris in April

Re-tweet: The New Zealand born actor retweeted a link by activism account Caprica Is Burning, pictured above

The American mother who gave birth to her son Chase with Dennis Nebus in October 2010 previously agreed to her son being circumcised, but two years later she changed her mind.

In May she testified in court that she did not want Chase to 'undergo requisite general anesthesia for fear of death,' records show.

Urologist Dr. Charles Flack said in court that though circumcisions are not necessary, 'penile cancer occurs only in uncircumcised males and uncircumcised males have a higher risk of HIV infection than uncircumcised males,' according to records.

Court battle: Heather Hironimus is fighting in Florida to stop her four year-old son Chase, pictured, being circumcised, as reported by YouCaring

Controversy: The Oscar winner sparked debate in 2011 when he aired his views on circumcision on Twitter

Family man: The 50-year-old actor pictured with his ex wife Danielle Spencer and their sons Charles, 10 and Tennyson, seven in Beverly Hills, has previously called circumcision 'immoral'

The mother has since been granted an emergency motion to stay, but is not allowed to fundraise for her own campaign, resulting in support from YouCaring a free platform for fundraising.

It's unsurprising that Crowe supports the cause, he previously made his views on circumcision known three years ago when he publicly declared the practise of removing some or all of a male's foreskin as 'immoral'.

The online debate, which took place on Twitter, was sparked by a question from a follower who asked Crowe if he thought she should have her unborn baby boy circumcised.

However, when follower 'Picknic11' said: 'Do you think I should get him circumstanced?', he replied: 'Here's a life rule, if you can't spell it, don't do it.'

The actor, who has two sons Charlie, ten, and Tennyson, seven, with his ex-wife Danielle Spencer, believes babies are 'perfect' and should not be tampered with.

'Babies are perfect': The Oscar winner, pictured with Danielle in Sydney in 2011, thinks the procedure of circumcision is 'barbaric and stupid'

Close friends: The opinionated actor defended his comments about circumcision by saying he was close friends with many Jewish people including director Eli Roth, pictured in The Water Diviner

He said at the time: 'Circumcision is barbaric and stupid. Who are you to correct nature? Is it real that GOD requires a donation of foreskin? Babies are perfect.'

The Water Diviner director then retweeted comments comparing circumcision to sexual mutilation, before insisting that he didn't mean to offend any religions saying he had many close Jewish friends, including director Eli Roth.

He tweeted: 'Many Jewish friends, I love my Jewish friends, I love the apples and the honey and the funny little hats but stop cutting your babies @eliroth.'

Homecoming: The antipodean star is set to make his directorial debut in Australia next month when his film The Water Diviner premieres in Sydney

He finally attempted to finish the row by reiterating his views: '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 you feel it is your right to cut things off your babies please unfollow and f**k off, I'll take attentive parenting over barbarism.'

The actor is set to celebrate his directorial debut Down Under when he walks the red carpet at at Sydney's State Theatre on December 2 to promote The Water Diviner.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Russell Crowe's management for comment.



