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FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2018 file photo, Viggo Mortensen, left, and Mahershala Ali, winners of the ensemble award for "Green Book," pose in the press room at the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. Mortensen has apologized for using a racial slur during a panel discussion about his new film. Mortensen told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday he was making the point that many people casually used the slur in 1962. In “Green Book,” Mortensen’s character is hired to drive an African-American pianist on a concert tour in the South. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
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FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2018 file photo, Viggo Mortensen, left, and Mahershala Ali, winners of the ensemble award for "Green Book," pose in the press room at the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif.
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Photo: Jordan Strauss, Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
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FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2018 file photo, Viggo Mortensen arrives at the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. Mortensen has apologized for using a racial slur during a panel discussion about his new film. Mortensen told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday he was making the point that many people casually used the slur in 1962. In “Green Book,” Mortensen’s character is hired to drive an African-American pianist on a concert tour in the South. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
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FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2018 file photo, Viggo Mortensen arrives at the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. Mortensen has apologized for using a racial slur during a panel discussion about his new
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Photo: Jordan Strauss, Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
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Viggo Mortensen as Tony Vallelonga aka Tony Lip and Mahershala Ali as Dr. Donald Shirley in "Green Book," directed by Peter Farrelly, opening at Bay Area theaters on Nov. 16. Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures, Participant and DreamWorks
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Viggo Mortensen as Tony Vallelonga aka Tony Lip and Mahershala Ali as Dr. Donald Shirley in "Green Book," directed by Peter Farrelly, opening at Bay Area theaters on Nov. 16. Photo: Courtesy of Universal
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Photo: Courtesy Of Universal Pictures, Participant And DreamWorks
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From L:R - Viggo Mortensen as Tony Lip and Mahershala Ali as Don Shirley in Peter Farrelly's GREEN BOOK. Photo: courtesy Participant Media/DreamWorks Pictures/Universal Pictures
From L:R - Viggo Mortensen as Tony Lip and Mahershala Ali as Don Shirley in Peter Farrelly's GREEN BOOK. Photo: courtesy Participant Media/DreamWorks Pictures/Universal Pictures
Photo: Participant Media/DreamWorks Pictures/Universal Pictures
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Viggo Mortensen arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Viggo Mortensen arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Photo: Jordan Strauss, Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
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Actor Viggo Mortensen and actress Jodie Whittaker arrive at the ‘Good’ premiere during the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival held at the Winter Garden Theatreon September 8, 2008 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by C.J. LaFrance/Getty Images)
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Actor Viggo Mortensen and actress Jodie Whittaker arrive at the ‘Good’ premiere during the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival held at the Winter Garden Theatreon September 8, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.
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Photo: C.J. LaFrance /Getty Images
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Viggo Mortensen, left, and Kathryn Hahn speak at the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
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Viggo Mortensen, left, and Kathryn Hahn speak at the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris
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Photo: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
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Actors Shree Crooks (L) and Viggo Mortensen attend The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. 26592_016 (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for TNT)
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Actors Shree Crooks (L) and Viggo Mortensen attend The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. 26592_016 (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty
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Photo: Emma McIntyre, Getty Images For TNT
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Actor Viggo Mortensen attends the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Actor Viggo Mortensen attends the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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Actor Viggo Mortensen participates in AOL's BUILD Speaker Series to discuss the film "Captain Fantastic" at AOL Studios on Monday, July 11, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Actor Viggo Mortensen participates in AOL's BUILD Speaker Series to discuss the film "Captain Fantastic" at AOL Studios on Monday, July 11, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Photo: Evan Agostini, Associated Press
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Photo: Jordan Strauss, Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2018 file photo, Viggo Mortensen, left, and Mahershala Ali, winners of the ensemble award for "Green Book," pose in the press room at the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. Mortensen has apologized for using a racial slur during a panel discussion about his new film. Mortensen told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday he was making the point that many people casually used the slur in 1962. In “Green Book,” Mortensen’s character is hired to drive an African-American pianist on a concert tour in the South. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
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FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2018 file photo, Viggo Mortensen, left, and Mahershala Ali, winners of the ensemble award for "Green Book," pose in the press room at the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif.
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Photo: Jordan Strauss, Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Actor Viggo Mortensen apologizes for using racial slur
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor Viggo Mortensen has apologized for using a racial slur during a panel discussion about his new film "Green Book."
Mortensen, who is white, appeared Wednesday at the event with his co-star, Mahershala Ali, and director Peter Farrelly.
Mortensen told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday he was making the point that many people casually used the slur in 1962, when the movie takes place. He says he had "no right to even imagine the hurt that is caused by hearing the word in any context." He says he intended to "speak strongly against racism" and is sorry he used the word.
In "Green Book," Mortensen's character is hired to drive an African-American pianist on a concert tour in the South.
The movie is due in theaters later this month.