Singer and actor Barbra Streisand, 76, has made bizarre statements about the harm suffered by alleged sexual assault victims of Michael Jackson, in an interview published on Friday. Jackson is pictured in 2002
Barbra Streisand has finally issued a full apology for defending friend Michael Jackson after claiming his two accusers 'wanted to be there'.
The legendary singer and actress, 76, sparked an angry backlash Saturday after saying Jackson's 'sexual needs were his sexual needs' in a bizarre interview.
Following the outrage she then issued a statement which appeared to continue to blame the boys' parents.
But the Oscar winner later posted a separate statement on Twitter which went far beyond her earlier words in which she elaborated on her published remarks saying she was 'profoundly sorry'.
Streisand wrote: 'I am profoundly sorry for any pain or misunderstanding I caused by not choosing my words more carefully about Michael Jackson and his victims.
'I didn't mean to dismiss the trauma these boys experienced in any way. Like all survivors of sexual assault, they will have to carry this for the rest of their lives.
'I feel deep remorse and I hope that James and Wade know that I truly respect and admire them for speaking their truth.'
The singer had said in a statement to The Washington Post that she 'feels nothing but sympathy for the men' but still heaped blame on the boys' parents for allowing themselves to be 'seduced by fame and fantasy'.
She said: 'To be crystal clear, there is no situation or circumstance where it is OK for the innocence of children to be taken advantage of by anyone.
'The stories these two young men shared were painful to hear, and I feel nothing but sympathy for them.'
But she continued to lay blame with the two men's parents adding: 'The single most important role of being a parent is to protect their children. It's clear that the parents of the two young men were also victimized and seduced by fame and fantasy.'
She followed up with her full apology on Twitter.
Barbra Streisand, 76, told British newspaper The Times that the two main subjects of documentary 'Leaving Neverland,' adults Wade Robson and James Safechuck, 'were thrilled to be there' as children and whatever happened to them 'didn't kill them'
The director and producer of that film, British filmmaker Dan Reed, joined many in being appalled at Streisand's remarks
Streisand said she believed the claims by now-adults Wade Robson and James Safechuck in the documentary 'Leaving Neverland' but that Jackson's 'sexual needs were his sexual needs' In this January 24, file photo, Robson (left), Reed (center) and Safechuck (right) pose during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah where the documentary was released
Streisand told British newspaper The Times of London that the two main subjects of documentary 'Leaving Neverland,' now-adults Wade Robson and James Safechuck, 'were thrilled to be there' as children and whatever happened to them 'didn't kill them'.
The recently released 'Leaving Neverland' documentary is about how Robson and Safechuck, now in their 30s, say Jackson, who died at age 50 in 2009, sexually abused them from the ages of seven and 10, respectively.
Streisand said she believes the victims' claims, but felt bad for both them and Jackson, adding that Jackson's 'sexual needs were his sexual needs' and the blame should lie with the boys' parents.
'I feel bad for the children,' she said, of Robson and Safechuck. 'I feel bad for him. I
