‘Girls Gone Wild’ founder Joe Francis apologizes for jury remarks

“Girls Gone Wild� founder Joe Francis has apologized for saying the Los Angeles jury that convicted him this month “should all be lined up and shot.�

In a 259-word statement issued early Thursday, Francis said his comments to the Hollywood Reporter “were hurtful and do not reflect my true feelings.�

“I am truly, truly sorry,� he said. “I hope everyone will understand I was not being serious and that I fully and deeply apologize for my remarks.�

As Show Tracker reported Wednesday, the 40-year-old criticized the jurors who found him guilty of imprisoning three women at his Bel-Air home. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 9.

“If that jury wants to convict me because I didn’t show up [to court], which is the only reason why they did, then, you know, they should all be lined up and shot,� Francis told the Reporter.

“Only the stupidest of the stupidest people end up on juries, you know?� he added.

Francis maintained his innocence in his apology, saying, “I am not, nor have I ever been, a violent person.�

“My comments are appalling, but anyone who has ever been wrongfully convicted of a crime that they did NOT commit would be as frustrated as I am,� he said.

It wasn’t the first time Francis has found himself in a courtroom.

He has been accused of crimes including filming girls underage, keeping poor records and tax fraud. Most recently, Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn won a multimillion-dollar defamation suit against Francis, who claimed he had proof Wynn cheated “high-end customers.�

In 2006, he slammed a female Los Angeles Times reporter against a car and twisted her arm behind her back, as noted in her story.

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