Washington, Jan 24 : Hollywood actor Tom Hanks has apologized to the members of the Mormon community for calling them "un-American" for backing the gay marriage ban in California.

Hanks was reportedly upset with the Mormons for lending support to Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriages.

Tom Hanks stated then: "The truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen. There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them."

However, the statements didn't go down well with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and they uttered disgust over Hanks' "un-American" comment.

"Expressing an opinion in a free and democratic society is as American as it gets," People quoted a spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Kim Farah, as telling Fox News.

Following the uproar, the `Forest Gump' actor mellowed down, and apologized for his comments.

"Last week, I labeled members of the Mormon church who supported California''s Proposition 8 as "un-American." I believe Proposition 8 is counter to the promise of our Constitution; it is codified discrimination. But everyone has a right to vote their conscience - nothing could be more American," he stated.

"To say members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who contributed to Proposition 8 are "un-American" creates more division when the time calls for respectful disagreement. No one should use "un- American" lightly or in haste. I did. I should not have," he added. (ANI)