James PattersonĀ is apologizing for hisĀ statement that white male writers face a “form a racism.”

Taking to Twitter Tuesday, the 75-year-old authorĀ wrote, “I apologize for saying white male writers having trouble finding work is a form of racism. I absolutely do not believe that racism is practiced against white writers.”

“Please know that I strongly support a diversity of voices being heardā€”in literature, in Hollywood, everywhere,” he added.

The apology comes after Patterson expressed his struggle to find work in the film, theater, TV, and publishing industries, calling it “just another form of racism,” in an interview published inĀ The Sunday TimesĀ on June 12.

“Whatā€™s that all about?” he continued. “Can you get a job? Yes. Is it harder? Yes. Itā€™s even harder for older writers. You donā€™t meet many 52-year-old white males.”

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