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Hank Williams Jr 'backtracks on Obama Hitler comparison'

Published Tuesday, Oct 4 2011, 04:17 BST | By Jennifer Still | Add comment

Hank Williams Jr has elaborated on comments about Barack Obama which led to his removal from ESPN.

The country star's track 'All My Rowdy Friends Are Back for Monday Night' - used as the introduction for the sports network's Monday Night Football - was pulled on Monday after Williams compared the US president to Adolf Hitler during an appearance on Fox and Friends.

He has since attempted to clarify his statements, telling TMZ that he was simply trying to make a point and was "misunderstood".

"Some of us have strong opinions and are often misunderstood. My analogy was extreme - but it was to make a point. I was simply trying to explain how stupid it seemed to me - how ludicrous that pairing was," Williams said in a statement to the website.

"Every time the media brings up the tea party it's painted as racist and extremists - but there's never a backlash - no outrage to those comparisons… Working class people are hurting - and it doesn't seem like anybody cares... Something has to change. The policies have to change."

However, Williams insisted that he has "always respected the office of the president" and does not believe that his comments negate that fact.

Watch Hank Williams Jr compare Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler on Fox & Friends below: