Star Trek legend George Takei has apologized for calling Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as 'a clown in blackface' and a 'disgrace to America' during an interview on same-sex marriage.

The actor and gay activist was criticized following his scathing outburst to a reporter while discussing the Justice's dissent in the landmark ruling.

Sitting alongside his husband Brad, he told Fox 10 Phoenix: 'He is a clown in blackface sitting on the Supreme Court. He gets me that angry. He doesn't belong there.'

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Star Trek George Takei has apologized for calling Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as 'a clown in blackface' during an interview on same-sex marriage

Takei married his long-time partner in 2008 and has been a fervent campaigner for sexual equality in the United States.

Justice Thomas was among the dissenters in the landmark five to four ruling, claiming the decision was unconstitutional.

After the scathing remarks, Takei wrote a lengthy message on Facebook, backtracking on the comments.

He said: 'I owe an apology. On the eve of this Independence Day, I have a renewed sense of what this country stands for, and how I personally could help achieve it.

'The promise of equality and freedom is one that all of us have to work for, at all times. I know this as a survivor of the Japanese American internment, which each day drives me only to strive harder to help fulfill that promise for future generations.

Sitting alongside his husband Brad, (pair pictured together in 2013) he told the station doesn't belong on the Supreme Court and is a 'disgrace to America'

'I recently was asked by a reporter about Justice Clarence Thomas's dissent in the marriage equality cases, in which he wrote words that really got under my skin, by suggesting that the government cannot take away human dignity through slavery, or though internment.

'In my mind that suggested that this meant he felt the government therefore shouldn't be held accountable, or should do nothing in the face of gross violations of dignity. When asked by a reporter about the opinion, I was still seething, and I referred to him as a 'clown in blackface' to suggest that he had abdicated and abandoned his heritage.

'This was not intended to be racist, but rather to evoke a history of racism in the theatrical arts. While I continue to vehemently disagree with Justice Thomas, the words I chose, said in the heat of anger, were not carefully considered.

'I am reminded, especially on this July 4th holiday, that though we have the freedom to speak our minds, we must use that freedom judiciously.

Justice Thomas was among the dissenters in the landmark five to four ruling, legalizing same-sex marriage across the country, claiming the decision was unconstitutional

'Each of us, as humans, have hot-button topics that can set us off, and Justice Thomas had hit mine, that is clear. But my choice of words was regrettable, not because I do not believe Justice Thomas is deeply wrong, but because they were ad hominem and uncivil, and for that I am sorry.

'I often ask fans to keep the level of discourse on this page and in comments high, and to remember that we all love this country and for what it stands for, even if we often disagree passionately about how to achieve those goals. I did not live up to my own high standards in this instance.

'I hope all of you have a wonderful, safe and joyously free July 4th, the first where all married couples in the U.S. can enjoy the full liberties of matrimony equally.