FILE - Lance Bass arrives at the American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in this Nov. 24, 2013 file photo taken in Los Angeles. If Juan Pablo Gavalis is looking for forgiveness after his comments about gays, he need look no further than Lance Bass. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
January 24, 2014 - 5:12 AM
PARK CITY, Utah - If Juan Pablo Galavis is looking for forgiveness after his anti-gay comments, he need look no further than Lance Bass.
"I don't hate him at all," Bass said. "I still think he's cute."
Galavis, star of ABC's "The Bachelor," apologized last week after telling a journalist that he didn't think a gay or bisexual bachelor would set a good example for kids. He also said gays were more "pervert, in a sense."
Galavis, who grew up in Venezuela, later said he respects gay people and blamed a language barrier for his use of the word "pervert."
Bass, who is gay, says he has a massive crush on Galavis.
"Of course it's disappointing, because you don't want someone who (you) actually love to have those thoughts," said the former 'N Sync singer.
However, he blamed Galavis' attitude on the culture in which he grew up. "When you grow up in a place like that, you get brainwashed into thinking that way, you know, you can't help what you grow up with.
"I mean, I grew up in Mississippi, so I know how people can get brainwashed into thinking really, really awful things," the 34-year-old singer said in an interview with The Associated Press earlier this week. "So hopefully, he will learn from this and get educated."
Bass said this is the first "Bachelor" season he's watched — because of Galavis. But he's committed to one man — his fiance, Michael Turchin, whom he calls "the love of my life."
Bass says they haven't "planned a thing" for their fall wedding.
"It sucks when two guys are planning a wedding, because we're guys. So we have no idea what to do," he said.
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News from © The Associated Press, 2014