Anthony Anderson is facing heat after a 2003 interview with then-17-year-old Lindsay Lohan resurfaced online, drawing widespread criticism for what many are calling inappropriate and uncomfortable comments.
The interview, which originally aired when Anderson was guest-hosting The Sharon Osbourne Show, included several remarks that haven’t aged well, especially in today’s more sensitive cultural climate. And now, Anderson is speaking out.
A clip from the interview shows Lohan saying she’s “illegal, for people that are old,” clearly referencing her being underage. Anderson responds by laughing and saying, “Some men like them young. We ain’t gonna mention no names, but I’m one of them.” The comment drew immediate backlash on social media platforms this week, with fans and critics calling it “creepy,” “uncomfortable,” and “gross.”
Anderson, now 53, responded through his rep in a statement shared with People: “This interview was clearly intended as comedy. He regrets if the humor was in poor taste and maintains the utmost respect for Lindsay. Any implication to the contrary is both inaccurate and potentially defamatory.”
But that wasn’t the only questionable moment. During the segment, Anderson gifted Lohan a satin pink pillow with his face printed on it after she spoke about decorating her new apartment, which she shared at the time with fellow Disney star Raven-Symoné. He then asked her if any “gentlemen” would be visiting the pad, prompting Lohan to clarify, “No one. I don’t have a boyfriend.” Anderson followed that with, “She’s single, but looking!” The vibe was already off, and then came the infamous age comment.
Adding to the awkwardness, when Anderson threw to commercial, he noted that Freaky Friday, Lohan’s hit movie, had just dropped on DVD and said, “Right now, we’re about to get our freak on,” as he leaned in for a hug. Lohan, clearly caught off guard, covered her mouth with her hand.
Elsewhere in the interview, the tone was a bit more tame. Anderson joked about his kids being fans of Lohan from The Parent Trap and said he couldn’t believe she was “only 17” given her level of professionalism and polish. They also talked about her Long Island upbringing, getting her driver’s license, and the upcoming release of Mean Girls.
The clip is gaining new attention just as Lohan is in full promo mode for her Freaky Friday sequel, Freakier Friday, which will reunite her with Jamie Lee Curtis. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on August 8, and anticipation has been high. But with this interview re-emerging, it’s added an unexpected layer of controversy to the press cycle.
Anderson hasn’t commented beyond the rep’s statement, and Lohan herself has remained silent on the issue so far. But the internet doesn’t forget, and fans are now viewing past moments through a 2024 lens, especially those involving young women in Hollywood during the early 2000s. Whether or not Anderson’s comments were meant as humor, the consensus online is that the bit didn’t land.
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