Media personality Media Freedman has apologised for comparing homosexual people to paedophiles on national television, saying she is “incredibly distressed” about offending the gay community.

During an episode of Channel Ten’s The Project on Thursday night, Freedman said paedophiles could not be rehabilitated, just like gay people could not change who they were attracted to.

“We accept that gay people can’t change who they love and they’re sexually attracted to, so why do we think that people who are sexually attracted to children can be rehabilitated?” Freedman asked.

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Viewers of the show immediately took to Twitter to describe Freedman’s comments as ‘extremely poor’ and shameful.

The former magazine editor apologised on Twitter, but went further this morning, writing a statement on her website mamamia.com.au.

“Let me be absolutely clear: I unreservedly apologise to anyone I have upset, confused or outraged and to anyone who thought I would ever ever ever stand with bigotry or homophobia,” she wrote.

“You run a huge risk of your words being twisted, taken out of context and fed to the enemies of your cause.”

“Last night I forgot that and I’m incredibly distressed that the result has been more pain and suffering for the gay community,” she wrote.

Mortified that I may have caused offence to some in the gay community who misunderstood my clumsily worded point in chat on @theprojecttv

— Mia Freedman (@MiaFreedman) October 16, 2014

I am a longtime and fierce supporter of marriage equality and the LGBTQI community.

— Mia Freedman (@MiaFreedman) October 16, 2014

Shame on @miafreedman comparing the love between gay people as the same for a paedophiles love for children! #theprojecttv #disgraceful

— Jarrah James (@jarrahjames) October 16, 2014

.@MiaFreedman‘s comment was extremely poor however the hatred being directed at her is diabolical. #ThinkBeforeYouSpeak #ThinkBeforeYouTweet

— Nez (@fraggle73) October 16, 2014

Did Mia Freedman seriously just compare homosexuality to pedophilia? Really? @theprojecttv — Alisha 🙂 (@Oohlalisha) October 16, 2014