A contractor in Ohio who followed a black man home and called him the N-word repeatedly tried to write it all off as an “awful mistake” — saying the racist rant drove him out of business and ruined his life.

Jeffrey Whitman, who owns Uriah’s Heating and Cooling in Powell, was driving his company van last Tuesday in Columbus when he accused another driver of cutting him off and followed the driver, Charles Lovett, for nearly two miles to his home — where the contractor launched into the racist tirade.

Whitman said he now wanted to make amends for the hateful remarks, but stopped short of apologizing directly to Lovett, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

“It was an awful mistake and obviously I don’t know how to explain it, and it’s ruined my life and it’s ruined my family’s life,” Whitman said on a voicemail to a reporter on Thursday, two days after a video of the encounter was posted to Facebook and went viral.

“I’m out of business, I’m completely out, I’m done, I’ll never work in Columbus again,” the voicemail continued. “This has completely and thoroughly ruined my life.”

The voicemail ended at that point, according to the newspaper, but Whitman called back on Friday to claim he simply chose the wrong word while addressing Lovett and insisted he’s not a bigot. He also provided a phone number for a woman he urged a reporter to call, someone to be a “character witness” of sorts on Whitman’s behalf.

“I just don’t understand the intensity of the hate,” said Whitman, adding that the incident has led to harassment of his 85-year-old mother and his 25-year-old daughter.

“I was just trying to address the rudeness,” Whitman explained before the call cut off.

But the blowback on Whitman’s heating and cooling business has been swift, according to its Yelp profile.

“Service was amazing, he brought his own cross, lighter fluid and hood,” one review read. “Thank you Mr. Whitman for your attention to detail … Your type is not wanted in this county any longer, nor are your ‘heating and cooling services’ ever needed again.”

One man from Columbus joked that Whitman came to his house right away, “even with an appointment,” and refused to work without the background sound of “white noise machines.”

“Did not ask permission to leave advertising sign in lawn,” the post continued. “I had to use a fire extinguisher on it after.”

Another user blasted Whitman for “horrible service” and claimed he was late to appointments, but made no mention of his encounter with Lovett.

“When I called to discuss — owner was very rude,” the review read. “Avoid this company!”