Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich was heckled by a group of protesters aligned with the "Occupy" movement during an appearance Friday evening at Harvard University.

Gingrich was discussing a film that he produced about American exceptionalism when the demonstrators began shouting from the audience, sarcastically thanking him for "standing up for the corporations" and claiming to represent the "99 percent," the Boston Herald reported Saturday.

The former speaker of the House responded, "I think we are 100 percent. I think we are all Americans."

The hecklers were removed and no arrests were made, the university said.

Gingrich also addressed reports that his consulting firm collected payments from Freddie Mac, the insurance giant which he has criticized publicly.

"I didn't take it," Gingrich said of the reported $2 million payment. The funds "weren't paid to me as a candidate."