Actor Damon Wayans, Jr. drew outrage on social media over the July 4 holiday after posting a tweet that some users said was anti-American and racist against white people.

“Happy white people proud of their racist ancestors day,” Wayans tweeted on Tuesday.

Happy white people proud of their racist ancestors day — Damon Wayans Yunior? (@wayansjr) July 4, 2017

Criticism came quick, with one twitter user writing “Just another example of Hollywood talking down to Americans. They hate this country & their fans. #FabricatedRacism sadly returns @wayansjr.”

The New Girl star responded and said his tweet was merely a “joke.”

“A joke some took too personally. So what. Jokes aren’t illegal,” Wayans wrote. But his response seemed to only fuel more backlash.

When I think of all the men and women who have died for our independence, laughter does not come to mind. — jan (@ricknjan) July 4, 2017

Every single race and culture in the history of mankind has been enslaved at some point. Every one, including whites. Welcome to the club — Theresa Fehrenbach (@TheresaFBach) July 4, 2017

One user shared a meme depicting the number of white Union soldiers who died in the Civil War, which effectively dismantled the Confederacy and ended legalized slavery in the south.

https://twitter.com/ShariMcGriff/status/882374225763368961

Wayans later wrote to another Twitter user, “It was a joke. But feel free to be offended by it.”

Yep, it was a joke. But feel free to be offended by it. ;) — Damon Wayans Yunior? (@wayansjr) July 4, 2017

Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter: @JeromeEHudson