Ted Turner Apologizes for Saying Soldier Suicide Is 'Good'

Turner on humankind: "I kind of like us. We're responsible for the Holocaust, but we're also responsible for the Mona Lisa and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. We can be wonderful friends who will give you the shirt off our backs, but if you run into us on a bad day, we'll kill you."

In a statement, the mogul says he was "implying that it is good that the public is more aware of these tragedies."

Ted Turner is apologizing for saying that the increasing rate of suicide among military soldiers is "good" during an appearance on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight.

A spokesperson for Turner has released the following statement to The Hollywood Reporter:

During my recent interview on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight, I inadvertently used the word "good" when asked for my thoughts on the increasing rate of suicide among U.S. military soldiers in the Middle East. It was certainly not my intent to imply that suicide is "good." Rather, I was implying that it is good that the public is more aware of these tragedies and is more averse to war and war-related fatalities. My message has always been one of peace, I believe that we're born programmed to love and help each other, not to kill or hurt each other. I strongly support our U.S. troops and would never intentionally say anything to harm the brave men and women serving our country. I deeply apologize for any misunderstanding caused by this comment.

Turner, 73, once owned CNN and appeared on the network Oct. 19 for a broad interview that was highlighted by conservative websites on Thursday. CNN.com has not made video of the exchange available for viewing. According to FoxNews.com, this is a transcript of Turner's comments:

THR COVER: Whatever happened to Ted Turner?

TURNER: I think the global policeman should be the United Nations. And I don't think we should need one. I think we should use courts the way we do in civilian life. It's time to put war and conflict behind us and move on, and start acting like civilized, educated human beings.

MORGAN: You made the point to me in the break there, more American servicemen have --

TURNER: -- are dying now from suicide over there than are dying in combat.

MORGAN: That's shocking, isn't it?

TURNER: Well, what -- no, I think it's -- I think it's good, because it's so clear that we're programmed and we're born to love and help each other, not to kill each other, to destroy each other. That's an aberration. That's left over from hundreds of years ago. It's time for to us start acting enlightened.