(CNN) Plans for Dan Crenshaw's much-talked-about appearance on "Saturday Night Live" this past weekend were kept quiet until the last minute.

But on Monday's episode of "Today," the Republican Congressman-elect explained that he agreed to appear alongside Pete Davidson to accept his apology after being contacted by "SNL" producers.

"We were hesitant at first, we weren't sure what the skit was going to look like," Crenshaw said. "But in the end, we decided to do it because what better platform than to give a united message for the country, talk about forgiveness and then talk about veterans?"

Davidson faced widespread criticism for a joke in the previous week's episode of "SNL" about Crenshaw's eye patch, a result of an injury he suffered while serving as a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan.

"I mean this from the bottom of my heart, it was a poor choice of words," Davidson said to Crenshaw in apology. "The man is a war hero, and he deserves all the respect in the world."

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