Faced with growing criticism, Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn has apologized for insulting comments he made about women, gays and lesbians in a nearly two-year-old blog post, characterizing his remarks as "poorly worded and offensive to many."

The statement, released last night by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and re-posted on Gunn's Facebook page, followed outreach from the organization, condemnation by the Human Rights Campaign -- "James Gunn’s blog post is offensive not just to LGBT people and women but rather to anyone with even the slightest sense of decency" -- and online outrage, all stemming from a deleted February 2011 post on the filmmaker's website.

Newly unearthed via Google Cache, the results of a “Superheroes You Most Want to Have Sex With” poll include commentary in which Gunn refers to Gambit as "this Cajun fruit," calls teenage mother Stephanie Brown "easy," admits wanting "to anally do" Kitty Pryde, and suggests Tony Stark could "turn" the lesbian Batwoman.

Here is Gunn's statement: "A couple of years ago I wrote a blog that was meant to be satirical and funny. In rereading it over the past day I don't think it's funny. The attempted humor in the blog does not represent my actual feelings.  However, I can see where statements were poorly worded and offensive to many. I'm sorry and regret making them at all.  People who are familiar with me as evidenced by my Facebook page and other mediums know that I'm an outspoken proponent for the rights of the gay and lesbian community, women and anyone who feels disenfranchised, and it kills me that some other outsider like myself, despite his or her gender or sexuality, might feel hurt or attacked by something I said. We're all in the same camp, and I want to do my best to make this world a better place for all of us. I'm learning all the time. I promise to be more careful with my words in the future. And I will do my best to be funnier as well. Much love to all."

Gunn, who was confirmed in September to rewrite and helm Guardians of the Galaxy, had been targeted by an online petition asking Marvel Studios “to cut ties with Gunn and find a new director who has respect for women.” Now closed, the petition garnered 5,037 signatures. Guardians of the Galaxy opens Aug. 1, 2014.