James Brolin at The New York film premiere of 'The Hunting Party' held at The Paris Theater. New York City, USA - 22.08.07

Brolin was appearing on New Haven, Connecticut's WPLR station on Tuesday (11Sep07) to promote his new movie The Hunting Party, when hosts A.J and Chaz pointed out it was the sixth anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S.

The star replied, "Right, oh, yeah, Happy 9/11!", later adding, "Ha, ha, ha! I hear silence. Celebrate the day, right?"

Chaz explained, "Yeah, well, we're right outside of New York, and I know people who lost family members, so . . . we don't say, 'Happy 9/11' around here," before Brolin attempted to cover up his remarks by calling the events of September 11 "a horrible situation".

He was then cut off by Chaz who returned the discussion to that of Brolin's movie.

Ed Sabatino, WPLR's programme director, tells the New York Post the station has fielding hundreds of complaints from listeners over Brolin's insensitivity.

Jeff Wald, Brolin's manager, insists the star's comments were not intentional, and he was "horrified by it (9/11). It was an off-the-cuff remark."

Source: WENN