Lewis's gay slur causes outrage

Jerry Lewis has come under attack from gay rights groups after referring to cricket as "a fag game".

The 82-year-old made the remarks on the Australian chatshow Down Under, when asked how he felt about the national sport.

He said: "Oh, cricket? It's a fag game. What are you, nuts?"

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has since chastised the veteran comic, highlighting similar comments he made on live TV last year.

"Last year, Mr. Lewis apologised for using an anti-gay slur on live television, and expressed his desire to raise public awareness about the impact of this kind of defamation," said a spokesperson for GLAAD.

"Clearly he did not take the lessons of that unfortunate episode to heart because, in an effort to be humourous, he has once again managed to offend and defame the gay community."

They added that Lewis displayed "an incredible lack of dignity and respect when he makes comments that contribute to a climate of intolerance".