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'Making fun of immigrants is never in good taste': Actor Tim Matheson, 73, is slammed on Twitter for mocking Melania Trump by saying that it is 'wonderful to have a first lady that can speak English!'

Hollywood actor Tim Matheson apologized on Friday for posting a tweet mocking former First Lady Melania Trump's English-speaking abilities.

The 73-year-old Matheson, who is best known for playing the prankster Otter in the 1978 cult hit film Animal House, was reacting to a news story on Twitter about Jill Biden, President Joe Biden's wife.

'So wonderful to have a First Lady with class and heart. And, can speak English!' Matheson wrote.

The swipe at the Slovenian-born ex-first lady's English was met with harsh blowback on Twitter as angry responders accused the actor of xenophobia.

Tim Matheson seen above in June 2018Former First Lady Melania Trump

Actor Tim Matheson (seen left in June 2018) was accused of racism and xenophobia on Friday after he posted a tweet mocking former First Lady Melania Trump's (seen right on Wednesday) accent

¿So wonderful to have a First Lady with class and heart. And, can speak English!¿ Matheson wrote

'So wonderful to have a First Lady with class and heart. And, can speak English!' Matheson wrote

Matheson was responding to a news story about First Lady Jill Biden (seen above visiting the Whitman  Walker Clinic in Washington, DC, on Friday to highlight support services for cancer patients and caregivers)

Matheson was responding to a news story about First Lady Jill Biden (seen above visiting the Whitman  Walker Clinic in Washington, DC, on Friday to highlight support services for cancer patients and caregivers)

One Twitter user accused Matheson of tweeting 'in poor taste.'

'Making fun of immigrants is never in good taste, especially when said immigrant has made it her mission to assimilate by learning English and embracing American culture,' another Twitter user wrote.

Others hit back at Matheson, calling him a 'D-list' actor.

'I have just one question,' wrote one Twitter user. 'Who is Tim Matheson?'

In response to the backlash ignited by his initial tweet, Matheson deleted the post and then issued an apology.

'This morning I made a hasty and stupid joke about the former First Lady,' Matheson wrote.

'It wasn't funny, and it was in poor taste. It was regretful and humorless and I apologize.'

Last year, singer-actress Bette Midler apologized after provoking a firestorm by also mocking the then-first lady's accent.

One Twitter user accused Matheson of tweeting ¿in poor taste¿

One Twitter user accused Matheson of tweeting 'in poor taste'

Others hit back at Matheson, calling him a ¿D-list¿ actor

Others hit back at Matheson, calling him a 'D-list' actor

¿I have just one question,¿ wrote one Twitter user. ¿Who is Tim Matheson?¿

'I have just one question,' wrote one Twitter user. 'Who is Tim Matheson?'

¿Making fun of immigrants is never in good taste, especially when said immigrant has made it her mission to assimilate by learning English and embracing American culture,¿ another Twitter user wrote

'Making fun of immigrants is never in good taste, especially when said immigrant has made it her mission to assimilate by learning English and embracing American culture,' another Twitter user wrote

Midler said she was 'wrong' to mock Trump in social media posts she shared while watching the Republican National Convention in August.

The award-winning performer, 74, sparked a furor by poking fun at the then-first lady's accent as she addressed the nation in a televised speech.

'Oh, God. She still can't speak English,' Middler quipped on Twitter, after initially writing: '#BeBest is back! A UGE bore! She can speak several words in a few languages. Get that illegal alien off the stage!'

'BeBest' is a reference to the former first lady's anti-bullying campaign, which was widely mocked because of the fact that her husband, then-President Donald Trump, routinely belittled those with whom he disagreed.

Ater widespread backlash, the Beaches actress walked back her remarks, while stopping short of issuing an apology to the ex-first lady herself.

'Well, all hell has broken loose because I said Melania 'still can't speak English' last night. I was wrong to make fun of her accent. America is made up people who speak with all kinds of accents, and they are all welcomed always,' Midler wrote on Twitter.

In response to the backlash ignited by his initial tweet, Matheson deleted the post and then issued an apology

In response to the backlash ignited by his initial tweet, Matheson deleted the post and then issued an apology

Matheson is perhaps best known for his role as fraternity prankster Otter in the 1978 cult comedy classic Animal House. Matheson is seen right in the film alongside Verna Bloom

Matheson is perhaps best known for his role as fraternity prankster Otter in the 1978 cult comedy classic Animal House. Matheson is seen right in the film alongside Verna Bloom

Like Matheson, Midler was immediately branded a 'racist' and 'xenophobe'.

Even fierce critics of Donald Trump said Melania's accent was not a 'legitimate reason' to criticize her.

Piers Morgan parodied Midler's words by saying: 'Oh, God. Bette Midler's a racist.'

Republican Senate candidate Mark Curran was among those who called the remark 'xenophobic', while CNN's Kyle Feldscher labelled it 'pathetic'.

'One would think that someone who has performed in front of crowds her entire career would be impressed with someone making a speech to millions of people in a tongue that is not her first language,' Feldscher said.

Conservative activist JD Rucker condemned Midler's remark by saying: 'Hollywood and the Democratic Party truly hate America.

'They hate patriots. They hate conservatives. But there's one thing they hate more than anything else.

'They hate minorities and immigrants who do not fall in line with their abusive ideology.'

Last year, another Hollywood celebrity, Bette Midler, drew fire for mocking Melania Trump's English

Last year, another Hollywood celebrity, Bette Midler, drew fire for mocking Melania Trump's English

Midler said that Melania Trump 'can't speak English' while the then-first lady delivered her remarks during the Republican National Convention in August

Midler said that Melania Trump 'can't speak English' while the then-first lady delivered her remarks during the Republican National Convention in August

After widespread backlash, the Beaches actress walked back her remarks, while stopping short of issuing an apology to the former first lady herself

After widespread backlash, the Beaches actress walked back her remarks, while stopping short of issuing an apology to the former first lady herself

Melania Trump (pictured during her speech on August 25, 2020) received a green card in March 2001 and became a US citizen in 2006 after immigrating from Slovenia

Melania Trump (pictured during her speech on August 25, 2020) received a green card in March 2001 and became a US citizen in 2006 after immigrating from Slovenia

Melania, an immigrant from Slovenia, received a green card in March 2001 and became a US citizen in 2006.

She has claimed through an attorney that she first came to the US from Slovenia on August 27, 1996, on a B1/B2 visitor visa and then obtained an H-1B work visa on October 18, 1996.

In November 2016, it was learned that Melania was paid for 10 modeling jobs in the United States worth $20,056 that occurred in the seven weeks before she had legal permission to work in the country.

The information was learned from detailed accounting ledgers, contracts and related documents from more than 20 years ago provided to The Associated Press. 

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