Rev. Jesse Jackson has apologized for making a “crude remark” about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama during what he thought was a private conversation three days ago.

Following an interview on Fox News on Sunday, Jackson said: “See, Barack been, um, talking down to black people on this faith based … I want cut his nuts off … Barack … he’s talking down to black people.”

In his public apology on Wednesday, the Rainbow/Push Coalition boss explained his actions, saying:

“I was in a conversation with a fellow guest on Sunday. He asked about Barack’s speeches lately at the black churches. I said he comes down as speaking down to black people.”

“Well, they were hurtful and wrong, that’s the whole point…And when you make mistakes you should not equivocate. You should be quick to go into offensive and not try to be evasive. And if it was said to him personally or in some public forum it would be even more hurtful. In this case, my error was responding to a question before a live mic. And so when he does hear them they will not be helpful; they will be hurtful. We have a relationship that can survive this.”