Actor Alec Baldwin has posted an open letter to GLAAD apologising for comments he made about a Daily Mail journalist in which he called him a “toxic little queen”.

Alec Baldwin yesterday launched a homophobic Twitter attack on a Daily Mail reporter last night, calling him a “toxic little queen” and urging his followers to “straighten out this fucking little bitch.”

The threats came in response to a Daily Mail article written by George Stark accusing Baldwin’s wife, Hilaria, of sending tweets about smoothie recipes and a wedding anniversary during the funeral of Sopranos star James Gandolfini.

In the series of tweets which followed, he attacked Mr Stark, calling him a “lying little bitch.”

He then threatened violence against the reporter, writing: “I’m gonna find you, George Stark, you toxic little queen, and I’m gonna fuck…you…up.”

Baldwin’s tweets then became increasingly more homophobic, as he carried on his attack: “If [sic] put my foot up your fucking ass, George Stark, but I’m sure you’d dig it too much”

In an open letter to GLAAD, posted on the actor’s website, Baldwin said his comments were “ill advised”, and had “absolutlely nothing to do with issues of anyone’s sexual orientation.”

He wrote: “My ill-advised attack on George Stark of the Daily Mail had absolutely nothing to do with issues of anyone’s sexual orientation. My anger was directed at Mr Stark for blatantly lying and disseminating libelous information about my wife and her conduct at our friend’s funeral service. As someone who fights against homophobia, I apologize.

“I have worked, periodically, with numerous marriage equality organizations, especially over the past couple of years, to achieve the very rights that gay couples are earning by recent court decisions. I would not advocate violence against someone for being gay and I hope that my friends at GLAAD and the gay community understand that my attack on Mr Stark in no way was the result of homophobia.”

GLAAD Vice President of Communications Rich Ferraro replied to the apology sent to GLAAD, saying “Alec Baldwin is making it clear that the intent behind his tweets does not excuse his language, especially at a time when there were 11 incidents of violence against gay men in New York City just last month. As we all work to end such senseless acts of violence, allies like Baldwin are right to use these moments to reinforce support for the community and LGBT equality.”