Ebert won't back off of 'Jackass' remarks

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LOS ANGELES, June 21 (UPI) -- Chicago film critic and TV personality Roger Ebert says he won't apologize for a controversial remark he made via Twitter about Ryan Dunn's fatal car crash.

Dunn, 34, was a cast member of the "Jackass" films and TV show.

Photos published online apparently showing Dunn drinking alcoholic beverages and looking inebriated shortly before he hit a tree with his car Monday prompted Ebert to say on his Twitter feed, "Friends don't let Jackasses drink and drive."

The comment sparked outrage from many "Jackass" fans, including gossip columnist Perez Hilton, as well as Dunn's cast-mates, who said they felt Ebert had jumped to a conclusion since alcohol officially hasn't been determined a factor in the crash that killed Dunn and a "Jackass" production assistant.

However, Ebert is standing by what he said, despite the outcry.

"Perez Hilton's readers agree with me and not with Perez about my tweet on Ryan Dunn. He drank, he drove, 2 people died," Ebert later posted.

Tuesday, Ebert's Facebook page was taken down briefly, "in response, apparently, to malicious complaints from one or two jerks."