George Takei ghostwriter apologizes for going public

LOS ANGELES, June 13 (UPI) -- Journalist Rick Polito says he has apologized to George Takei for saying he ghostwrote items on the "Star Trek" star's Facebook page.

Polito told Romanesko.com he supplied Takei with jokes for $10 a pop, Zap 2 It reported.

Takei, 75, who has also become a gay rights activist, told Wired he has never pretended his Facebook page was entirely original.

"What is this hoo-ha about my FB posts?" Takei said. "I have Brad, my husband, to help me and interns to assist. What is important is the reliability of my posts being there to greet my fans with a smile or a giggle every morning. That's how we keep on growing."

Polito in a further explanation to Romanesko suggested he had misspoken.

"I wrote an apology to George and Brad and their guy said he'd pass it on. I just said that I'd been looking for any mention of my book I could get and that I hadn't meant to expose anything," he said. "I don't update his page. I've had no direct contact with George. I've sent him some memes, as have other comedian types and I was happy for the exposure."

In an e-book, "Oh Myyy," he released in November Takei said some of the content came from "George Fakei."