Bette Midler apologizes for suggesting Caitlyn Jenner may go back to being Bruce

NEW YORK, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Bette Midler apologized Sunday for a recent tweet about transgender reality star Caitlyn Jenner.

The 70-year-old actress backtracked on Twitter after suggesting the 66-year-old I Am Cait star will transition back to male now that her E! reality series is canceled.

"Dear Friends @HRC, whom I have always supported. Sorry last tweet offended. An idle musing. I seem to have misread the temper of the times," she wrote.

Midler had commented on Jenner in a since-deleted post the day previous, writing, "Now that @IAmCait has been cancelled, will she go back to being Bruce? Will Kris take him back? Do I smell a re-wedding?!" Many deemed the actress' remarks offensive and/or transphobic.

"Yes, because being transgender is just a phase? What a vile tweet. Will you go back to being irrelevant?" one person wrote.

"Just shows, you can be as gay-friendly all you want, but to some, transphobia comes so easy. How tired and pathetic," another added.

I Am Cait chronicled Jenner's life following her gender transition. The reality star and former Olympian came out as transgender in April 2015 and debuted her new look on the July 2015 cover of Vanity Fair magazine.

"After 2 amazing seasons of @IAmCait, it's time for the next adventure. Thank you E! & thank you to the best girlfriends I could ask for!" Jenner tweeted of the show's cancellation last week. The star has yet to address Midler's remarks.